This is the second scripture we’ll look into for this week.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
I just can’t get passed the first three words of Jesus in this passage, “Come to me…” He is always inviting us into life with Him!
A few years back, Becky and I got a cat. Bella stays outside during the day chasing all kinds of critters, but at night we always bring her into the house because of the coyotes that roam about. Around supper time, we call for her to come to us. Sometimes she’s out in the woods, sometimes up the driveway, or sometimes at the sidewalk right in front of the steps of the house. She’ll just stay where she is looking at us like we’re crazy, or that we’ve offended her… who knows what she’s thinking. We have food for her, shelter, and a place that’s prepared right next to Becky on the couch on a little blanket! But there’s great danger that she faces if she stays outside. Seems like she’s oblivious. Sometimes, she’ll come right in when we call. I’m always shocked!
How many times does Jesus invite us to come to Him, but it’s usually the last thing on our list. It seems many times we’ll go anywhere else and wait for a bad situation before we even think about coming to Him. There are many places we can find in scripture where Jesus gives the invitation to come.
Remember His invitation to the disciples? “Come, follow me…”
And there’s the invitation for His own people:
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.” Luke 13:34 (NLT)
No wonder Jesus was known as a man of sorrows. He loves us with an everlasting love, yet many of us refuse His Lovingkindness. Why does He ask us to come to Him? I think one reason is we’re carrying things that were never intended for us to bear. Sin. Death. Things that others would want to put on us that are weighty. We’ll talk more about this tomorrow.
Another big reason He calls us is to save us from ourselves. It’s the completed work of Jesus on the cross. Romans 10:13 says, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD will be saved.” He has called us, and we can call upon His name. Here’s His Lovingkindness again!
I’m really looking forward to this next one. I believe this call will happen very soon.
“According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18. (NKJV)
Jesus is saying to us, for so many reasons, “Come to me”.
Reflection:
- Can you remember a time in your life when you heard the words from Jesus “Come to me”?
- In what ways has He invited you to Himself?
- How has coming to Jesus changed you?
Prayer:
Father, May we have spiritual ears to hear Your Spirit when You call us. Your sheep hear the voice of the Good Shepherd. May we recognize that voice when He says “Come to me”. May we have ears to hear what Your Spirit says to this church. In Jesus’ name!
