Approaching God

Watching all the news coverage of the death of Queen Elizabeth had me thinking about the protocols surrounding royalty. You can’t just walk into the palace and ask the queen or king a question. Royalty demands a certain level of distance, respect, fear, separation from the average person. To speak to the king, you need to be pre-approved to see him and follow set rules about approaching him.

Although not as extreme, it reminds me of Esther’s fear of approaching the king, even though he was her husband.

If any man or woman goes to the to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is one law – all alike are to be put to death. Esther 4:11

It would make sense that the Israelites would have the same fear of approaching God. God even tells Moses:

Go down and warn the people not to break through to the Lord to look; otherwise, many of them will perish. Exodus 192:1

Job, in his distress, calls out:

If only there were a mediator between us (God and me), someone who could bring us together. Then I could speak to Him without fear, but I cannot do that in my own strength. Job 9:33,35 (NLT)

Do I realize what an extreme privilege it is to approach God in prayer at any time or place? What an amazing gift! We not only get to enter His throne room, we are called to bring all our concerns to Him (Phil. 4:6) and pray without ceasing (I Thess. 5:16). God invites us to be like children who run into His office and interrupt whatever He is doing. He joyfully takes us in His arms and welcomes us. Absolutely amazing!

When I was in my 20s, it was a fad for a while to sit in on Saturday night court, just to watch. Sometimes I like to imagine that I am sitting in God’s court, just observing. It’s hard not to think that I have snuck in somehow; that I really shouldn’t be listening in. Am I really allowed to be in “the room where it happened?” (That’s from the musical Hamilton…) Like the thousands lining the streets of London, it seems enough to stand in the back and watch royalty from afar; it seems like a privilege just to be in the distant crowd.

But God has actually invited us into the room!

And not just to observe – God invites us to ask.

Ask, and it will be given you. If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him. Matthew 7:7,11

I sense that when we are in prayer, honest, private, personal prayer, we are in the room with God. Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit who empowers us to become children of God (John 1:12), allowing us into God’s throne room, God’s court, God’s office. Jesus wants us to abide with Him; God wants us to spend time with Him. Little ole insignificant me; little ole insignificant you, we are invited, encouraged even, to spend time with the creator and Lord of the universe.

He is infinitely more powerful and important and regal than any earthly king or queen. God’s judgements are infinitely more important than any earthly judge’s. Jesus has torn down the curtain of separation (Matt. 27:51) and invited us in.

In fact, as unfathomable as it may be, the King is outside our home, knocking on our door, asking to come in.

Listen! I am standing at the door knocking. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me. Revelation 3:20

You better believe I am asking Him in!  Are you?

Betsy