Matthew 11 - 09.07.23
SCRIPTURE:
“COME to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
(Matthew 11:28 NIV)
OBSERVATION:
The invitation
Come unto Me:
Jesus shows His authority when He says come unto Me.
This invitation is unthinkable in the mouth of anyone else but God,
and woe to the men who call people to themselves instead of to Jesus!
“Come”…He drives none away; He calls them to Himself.
His favorite word is ‘Come.’
AND—it is To Jesus Himself we must come, by a personal trust.
Not to doctrine, ordinance, or ministry but to the “ONE” personal Savior, Jesus.
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12 ESV)
APPLICATION:
COME…and then—draw even closer…
To come to Jesus is to realize our very deep need of Him.
There is salvation in no ONE else.
Yet, this is only the beginning of an amazing journey.
A discovery that marks over time—our very great need of Jesus--
The Longer our Walk with Him…the More we discover our Need…
In my walk I have learned that the closer I draw—the greater my need.
Say you are in a large room with no light, you cannot see—even large objects.
But if someone lights a candle on the other side of that room, you will at least be able to see the outline of things around you.
As you get closer to the candlelight, more objects come into view—you might even be able read something that is printed.
But if someone now turns on a bright light—you will see everything around you with perfect clarity. Things that were always there—but you were unable to see before.
Our walk with Jesus is like this room…Jesus invites us to Come and draw close…
the more we submit to Jesus—the closer we draw to HIS light—and allow Him to Transform our Lives…
And as we come closer to Jesus, the Bright Light of HIS Character, Perfection, and beauty shines on our lives. We SEE with clarity how short we fall of His glorious Character.
And we desire to submit further—for Him to continue to complete the transforming work in our lives.
“The Son is the radiance and only expression of the glory of our awesome God-
[reflecting God’s Shekinah glory], and the exact representation and perfect imprint of His Father’s essence, upholding and maintaining and propelling all things [the entire physical and spiritual universe] by His powerful word [carrying the universe along to its predetermined goal].
When He [Himself and no other] had [by offering Himself on the cross as a sacrifice for sin] accomplished purification from sins and established our freedom from guilt, He sat down [revealing His completed work] at the right hand of the Majesty on high [revealing His Divine authority],”
(Hebrews 1:3 AMP)
“And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit.”
(2 Corinthians 3:18 AMP)
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus,
Thank You that You pursued me. Thank You that You revealed Yourself to me when I wasn’t looking and didn’t know how much I needed You.
You extended the invitation to Come.
Thank You that you forgive all my sins and choose to make me your dwelling place.
Thank You that You continue to offer the invitation to Come…as you transform me more and more into your image.
Only in You is there True satisfaction and Joy.
Lord draw me close, Today. Bend down and Let me hear Your great and unsearchable promises that I may glorify Your Name everywhere You send me.
In Jesus Name, amen.
Tina L Kudelka