The Invitation to God

 

Search me O GOD and know my heart!
Try me and know my (anxious) thoughts!
And see if there is any grievous (idolatrous) way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting!
(Psalm 139:23-24)

As Christ-followers, we would have heard preachers and evangelists give “an invitation” to those who have yet to know JESUS, to trust Him. So it is us, humans, giving an invitation on behalf of GOD for others to “accept JESUS into their lives.”

In Psalm 139:23-24, the psalmist, instead, gives an invitation to GOD. He invites GOD to do something to him and this does seem strange. How is it strange you ask? Let me share three reasons why this may seem strange, at least on the surface.

Firstly, as Almighty GOD, He does not require our permission to do anything. As Creator, He has the right to do anything He pleases with His creatures. He is the LORD of Lords, the KING of kings. He owns all. He does not, in that sense require any of His creatures’ permission to do anything. Yet the psalmist here specifically gives permission, indeed invites GOD to come into his life.

In that sense this is strange. It is NOT strange because the GOD we know is not some Cosmic bully who would force Himself upon us. He does not and will not bash His way into our lives. He is also a gentle and meek Saviour who stands at the door of our hearts and knocks! (Revelation 3:20.)

In giving that invitation to GOD, the Psalmist invites us also to invite our Lord, to call upon Him, to open the doors of our hearts to Him. We must give our Lord the invitation. We are invited to invite Him in. He waits for us.

Secondly, it’s strange that the psalmist should ask GOD to “know” him. Why? Because does not GOD already know him? As a matter of fact, verse 1 of this psalm tells us: “O LORD, YOU have searched me and known me!”

I suspect while GOD DOES already know us, it’s another thing for us to ask Him, to give Him permission to “know” us. It’s the wonder of being vulnerable to our LORD, to have the courage for us to ask HIM to really “know” us. And doing that is not easy.

Indeed, it is really quite hard to give permission to a friend to know us. Because when we do so, he or she might ask us embarrassing or painful questions. Yet this giving of permission transforms the depth of the friendship that would develop. We stop hiding. We stop pretending. We become vulnerable to being really “known.” And then, the wonder of the love of GOD!

We find that GOD embraces us in all our dirt, filth, shame and pain, Hallelujah!! In giving our Lord the invitation, we are opening ourselves to deeper intimacy with JESUS.

Finally, it is strange for the psalmist to ask the LORD to “know” him in that should we not already know ourselves? Well, in reality, I believe many of us, myself included, think we know what’s happening in our own hearts. Yet so often our emotions get all mixed up and we struggle to make sense of the noise and confusion inside.

This invitation to GOD is really a cry for help. That’s the Gospel for us. It is a cry for the LORD to reveal what’s really happening within (i.e. see if there is any idolatrous way in us - because we ourselves are often blind to it.) In giving our Lord the invitation and permission, we are asking His help to “know” our own hearts. When we invite the Holy SPIRIT to come in, in giving Him permission, He will help us really “know” ourselves. That invitation is so precious, to make our heart, the LORD’s home.

That is my prayer this day, my invitation to my Lord.

May this be our prayer also.

Search me, O LORD, and know my heart. Try me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any idolatrous way in me. Lead me LORD, in YOUR ancient way.

In JESUS name I ask, amen.

Blog kindly contributed by Pastor Kai.