It’s a Come as You Are Party

It’s a Come as You Are Party

May 17, 2024 Off By Donna Wuerch Noble

I remember “back in the day” when we had “Come as you are” parties. The party planner called and invited friends who HAD to come right then, in whatever they had on at the time being. It was hilarious – PJ’s, work-out or dress-to-the-nines clothes, evening wear, swimming suit and jeans and a T–shirt or whatever.

But, in a more spiritual context, many of us carry a misconception that we need to tidy up our lives before we can “come as we are” to God. It’s like frantically cleaning our house before the guests arrive or brushing our teeth right before a dental appointment.

God doesn’t need us to be clean before He embraces us. He says, “Come as you are,” not as we think we should be.

Often, we think we need to be perfect before coming to God. The words of Romans 5:8 resonate deeply, “God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”

It is a powerful reminder that God’s love isn’t based on our perfection but on His grace. We are loved by God and crafted by His hands right from the start.

This invitation is vividly demonstrated in Psalm 57:3 that says: “He will send down help from heaven to save us because of His love.” That’s exactly what happened when Jesus came down from heaven to rescue us because of His boundless love.

If we ignore this “party’s” invitation, the sacrifice of Jesus – His death and resurrection –holds no real merit for us. It’s like having a life-saving medicine and not taking it.

We MUST accept THIS invitation and this love into our lives. Romans 10:9-10 offers a simple but profound step: “You will be saved, if you honestly say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and if you believe with all your heart that God raised Him from death. God will accept you and save you, if you truly believe this and tell it to others.”

God isn’t asking for a promise that we cannot keep. He is asking us to trust in a promise only He can fulfill. He invites us to step into His presence with all our imperfections and struggles. In this, there is freedom to be real, to acknowledge our weaknesses, and to experience His strength.

I know that Jesus has a standing “party” invitation for me. He engraved His name on the cover of my life story because I am His beloved daughter. Jesus will do the same for you!

God’s “party” invitation is always open, always standing, always sincere. Come as you are, with your joys, your worries, your successes, and your failures. You are welcome at His table. You are wanted in His family, and you are loved beyond measure. Go ahead…RSVP Him and tell Him you’ll be there!