God’s Gracious Invitation (A Prayer).

Father,

You know our hearts and minds.
You know how sinful and selfish we have been,
both publically and privately.
Yet You all to us in Isaiah 1:18 (NIV),

“Come now, let us settle the matter,”
says the LORD.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.

We thank You,
praise You,
and marvel at You for such grace.
Though our need was terrible beyond words to express,
Your grace paid all our debts.

We are not only forgiven and held guiltless in heaven’s courts
but we are loved,
rejoiced over,
and invited to sit and eat at Your table,
which we see represented before us in the bead and wine.

Again you invite us in saying Isaiah 55:1 (NIV)

“Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare.

And so we come:
to feast on Your word,
to drink in your grace,
to sing,
praise,
and worship You as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Fill us Lord for we are hungry.
Open our ears so that we can hear You and eat what is good.

We pray all this in the name of Jesus, Your Son and our Savior,
Whom we love,
In whom we have our joy,
And through whom is our hope. Amen.