Our word for 2020 is an invitation, an amazing invitation.It’s an invitation to Come Home. For the sinner caught in the mire and mess of darkness, for the stray who somehow got separated from the protections of the pack, for the believer who for myriad reasons has neglected sitting at the feet of Jesus, the invitation is for anybody and everybody. It’s for those who have never stepped foot in a church, for those who may know nothing about Jesus or the Bible, for those who may have been here in the past, and even for those who already worship regularly with us.

Based on the Luke 15 account of a son who took his inheritance, squandered it in wild living and found himself hungering for pig food, the invitation offers redemption, reconciliation, restoration and renewal for anybody who has wandered away thinking life will be better on my own when I’m making my own decisions. “When he came to his senses, he said, … ‘I will set out and go back to my father .’ … While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. … The father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

The most excellent news is that even if you think you are still far, far away, God the Father sees you from a distance and is running to greet you, embrace you and welcome you home.
Along with this “Come Home!” word, we are distributing a booklet titled “My Heart Christ’s Home,” written by Robert Boyd Munger and first published in 1954. An easy read, it explains the basics of what it means to allow Jesus access to and control of every room in the house. The Coming Home celebrations have already begun. Will yours be next?