Pass on the Invitation

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“Adventure” sounds exciting, but “unexpected” sounds ... well ... abrupt and often unwelcome, especially if you’re someone who likes to have everything mapped out ahead of time. If that’s you, then you may need to loosen your grip on control. Jesus said in John 3:8: “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” In other words, as followers of Jesus, we should start expecting the unexpected.

It’s easy to confuse what we’ve planned for what’s really important. The meeting you’re in might seem like your top priority, but the unanticipated phone call from your son, daughter, friend, or neighbor might be much more momentous in the long run for both of you.

Isn’t it interesting that many of Jesus’ most memorable actions were done in response to intrusions into his own plans and schedule? His powerful words to Nicodemus, some of which I quoted above from John 3, came after Nicodemus showed up one night—unannounced and uninvited—to ask a few theological questions. As a result, Jesus was able to seize the opportunity to teach this respected religious leader what it means to experience a genuine spiritual birth and the forgiveness and life that come with it.

Later in John 9 we see Jesus walking along the road (on his way to do important things) when he sees a blind man begging by the side of the path. Rather than viewing him as a distraction, Jesus recognizes a chance to express divine love and compassion. So he stops and heals the man, who immediately becomes a participant in the unexpected adventure himself.

In John 11, Jesus received word that his friend Lazarus was gravely ill. Jesus again changed his plans and made the journey to Bethany. As a result, he not only was able to comfort his friends, who by then were grieving Lazarus’s death, but he also performed a miracle, raising this man back to life and, simultaneously, raising the hopes of everyone in the region who saw or heard about his amazing work.

There’s no doubt about it: the adventure is as much in the journey as in the destination. So open your eyes today to your surroundings. Become more spiritually circumspect. Yes, do your work, pay your bills, and attend to your hundred daily details. But remember that as a Christ-follower your mission is never just about tasks or achievement.

First and foremost, it’s about loving, serving, and reaching the people God places in your life. Their interruptions can become portals into the realms of his supernatural activity and divine impact.—Mark Mittelberg1

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How much time is necessary to lead a person to faith in Jesus? As much time as that person requires. It varies with each person, but this is not the right question. What we should be asking is this: How much time am I willing to invest into the spiritual life of some lost friend? The cost is great, because time is a precious commodity. We waste countless hours doing things of no eternal value: we watch TV shows with no intrinsic worth; read books with no spiritual significance; play games that edify no one; chat online into the wee hours of the morning—but we jealously guard what little free time we have left over after doing these meaningless activities. We resent the implication that our time could be better spent. We boast of our busy schedules as if they prove our worth as persons, but we do not realize that our busyness keeps us from matters of real value. Most believers, if asked and if honest, would say they are too busy to be involved in any kind of witnessing activity. They are wrong on two fronts. First, they have more free time than they think they do; they just need to reprioritize their activities. Second, the claim to be too busy to witness reveals their belief that witnessing takes place only at a set, programmed time. If they would approach witnessing as a lifestyle, they would find ample time to talk to others about Jesus.—Woody D. Wilson2

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Whether in paid jobs or volunteer positions, He never gives us a place or situation that is too small to grow a witness in if we just pray and look around us. The world is full of people who need comfort, encouragement, hope, love, truth, and God’s answers. They’re there surrounding you, no matter where you may be. All it takes is a little searching to find those who are needy.

There are times and places for great beacons of God’s light, and there are times when He knows that the lights most needed are the many small ones. God’s Word, brought to life in His children can be, as the psalmist described, “a lamp unto their feet and a light unto their path.”3 Many times, those small lights to guide their next step are critical. You have to be walking at their side to help light their steps in such a personal way. So if that’s where He’s put you, enjoy the opportunity to share His light with them.—Maria Fontaine4

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Jesus, God the Son, was born of a woman and lived the life of a human. He was the nature and character of God in human flesh. His actions, His words, the life He lived, manifested what God is like, made tangible in the life of Jesus. The ultimate love, the deep compassion, the hatred of evil; the anger at injustice, hypocrisy, and taking advantage of the poor and weak; the mercy and understanding; all of these were the personality of God played out in a way that we, as humans, could understand.

Jesus was God’s love, God’s Word, walking the earth. He was called to pay the ultimate price of dying for the sins of those in the world, and in doing so, He made it possible for us to be reconciled to God, to become God’s children, to have the right to receive the inheritance of our Father, which is eternal life.

We, as members of God’s family, His adopted children,5 play a role in God’s great story, in His love for humanity, His love for His creation. We are called to share this story with those who haven’t heard it, who don’t understand it, and who have trouble believing it. With God’s Spirit dwelling in us, we are temples of the Holy Spirit. We are ambassadors of Christ, who have a personal relationship with God, and our commission from Jesus Himself is to share the message, to tell the story, to let others know that they can be part of God’s family. They can become part of God’s kingdom, of His new creation. Their sins can be forgiven, all for free, since the price of their entry into God’s family has been paid for. It’s theirs for the asking.

It’s helpful to remember the end result of it all, what God is offering, so it’s fresh in our hearts and minds when we offer it to others. Those who become members of God’s family will live forever in a place of incredible beauty, which is “prepared as a bride adorned for her husband,”6 with the radiance of jewels,7 with a wall constructed from precious stones.8 A place with no need of the sun or stars, for God will be its light.9There will be no death, mourning, crying, or pain.10 It’s a place that is free from all evil,11 a place where God will dwell with men.12—Forever! Ours is a message of joy, of happiness, of the possibility of eternal life in the most wonderful place possible, and a renewed life now. It truly is the most important message there is.

As partakers of these eternal blessings, as His ambassadors, His messengers, we should do our very best to live in a manner which reflects God and His love, which lets people see God’s light and feel His warmth through us, His children. We are to be messengers of the divine invitation, inviting one and all to the feast, to the kingdom of God.13 We are to preach the Gospel, the good news that anyone can become God’s child, that His free gift is available to everyone.

We are to be messengers of love, in word and in deed, to a world desperately in need of God, of His love, His forgiveness, and His mercy.14 We are His messengers; our job is to pass on the invitation, to share the good news, to tell the story, and to do so in a language that they understand, through our words, our actions, and our love. Invite them!

The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.15—Peter Amsterdam16

Published on Anchor September 2012. Read by Simon Peterson.


1 The Unexpected Adventure (Zondervan, 2009).

2 The Shadow of Babel (CrossHouse Publishing, 2009).

3 Psalm 119:105.

4 Previously published March 2012.

5 When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. Galatians 4:4–7 ESV.

6 I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Revelation 21:2 ESV.

7 He carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. Revelation 21:10–11 ESV.

8 The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, clear as glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass. Revelation 21:18–21 ESV.

9 The city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. Revelation 21:23 ESV.

10 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4 ESV.

11 Nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. Revelation 21:27 ESV.

12 I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.” Revelation 21:3 ESV.

13 The master said to the servant, “Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.” Luke 14:23 ESV.

14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? Romans 10:14 ESV.

15 Revelation 22:17 ESV.

16 Previously published February 2012.