Uninvited

I’ve been listening to a lot of Adele lately - a British artist and a current favorite of my daughters. She’s remarkably talented. Incredibly musical. We listen to her almost every day during our commute to school.

The last track is a hauntingly beautiful piano-driven piece called “Someone Like You.” It’s a love song. The chorus always makes me think of Jesus.

I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited

But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it.

I had hoped you'd see my face and that you'd be reminded

That for me it isn't over

If Old Testament scholars are correct, Malachi was the last prophet to hear and speak a word from God. He was the third and final post-exile prophet, and he makes reference to the temple in Jerusalem being rebuilt. This was over 350 years before Christ.

Then, silence.

And out of the blue - uninvited, unheralded and uncelebrated by all except angels, a few shepherds and magi - He appears. He couldn’t stay away. Couldn’t fight it.

At a stoplight on our drive this morning, I had to turn off the music for a moment and tell the girls. “That’s what Jesus did. He couldn’t stay away. He had to show up that we might see His face and be reminded that it isn’t over yet. His love is too big to leave us alone.”

And in a sense - this is still God’s story - showing up uninvited by His Spirit and through His people saying “It isn’t over yet. I’m here, and my love can’t stay away.”