Come

Earlier today on Bellshill Salvation Army Band’s Facebook page I shared the devotions I shared at our band practice last Wednesday evening. I’d like to share those devotions with you tonight.

In my job I manage a team of IT software developers who support and develop solutions used by people within our organisation. We also develop and support the technical aspect of our organisation’s website, including the many online forms. Many of the team (including me) have worked together in the organisation for many years. Over the last couple of years a few of the team have retired, so we’ve tried to replace these posts with similarly experienced developers, but have struggled to do so.

In the last couple of months we’ve taken a different tact, by trying to recruit entry level software developers. i.e. those who have just gained a degree in a relevant subject, and have no work experience in software development. This has allowed us to not only fill our vacancies, but also bring down the average age of our team!

Interviewing trainee software developers is a balance of looking for someone who is curious, humble, and has a willingness to learn and develop. Sometimes the most promising candidate is actually the one who came with less polish, less rehearsed responses and more shows passion for their chosen career. You look beyond the qualifications and the knowledge and simply look at the person, as technical skills can be taught, but character and teachability are priceless qualities to find in a trainee.

While filling in the interview assessment forms for the last set of interviews, I realised that the evaluation process of the candidates was very similar to how we see or evaluate ourselves when we approach God.

We may come to Him with spiritual insecurities — burdened by our failures, overwhelmed by life, haunted by our doubts, and convinced we’re not good enough. We think we need to be in a better place before God will accept us. But God’s response to us is always the same: Come.

Just as a we may hire a trainee software developer because of their potential rather than their current knowledge or experience, so God welcomes us for who we are today — not who we think we need to be.

I certainly find it very reassuring to know that even though God sees my brokenness, my imperfections, and my insecurities, He still tells me to come, just as I am.

I’ve found the words of the song “Come Just As You Are” have been stuck in my mind for the last few weeks. They capture that open invitation from God in such a simple, but reassuring way.

Come just as you are
Hear the spirit call
Come just as you are
Come and see
Come receive
Come and live forever

Life everlasting
Strength for today
Taste the living water
And never thirst again

Come just as you are
Don't you hear the spirit call?
Come just as you are
Come and see
Christ My King
Come and live forevermore

Here’s the prayer I shared to conclude our practice.

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your love that reaches beyond our flaws,
Your grace that meets us in our weakness,
And Your mercy that welcomes us without condition.

We come to You not polished, not perfect,
But real — with our doubts, our wounds, our tangled hearts. You see us fully and still call us Yours.
You know our failures and still whisper, “Come.”

Lord, we often try to earn what You’ve already given.
We wear masks, chase approval, and hide our brokenness.
But You invite us to lay it all down — To come boldly, honestly, and freely.

Help us to believe that we are enough in Your eyes.
Not because of what we’ve done,
But because of who You are.

Teach us to rest in Your acceptance,
To walk in Your grace,
And to extend that same love to others
Who feel unworthy, unseen, or unfinished.

We come, Lord — just as we are.
And we are grateful that You receive us with open arms.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.