THE
INVITATION OF JESUS
True
Christianity is not a religion but a relationship with the living
God. The Bible does not call men to come to a book of laws and commandments
but invites them to come to a person, Jesus, God's Son. The gift
of eternal life is not simply obtaining immortality but it is coming
to know and be known by God the one who alone posses immortality.
Jesus said:
(John
17:3) "And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the
only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.
On
a number of occasions Jesus emphasized the personal nature of the
call that goes out to all men. Each time that He calls man to Himself
the intent is to bless man in giving each person the opportunity
to become complete in Him. Consider the invitation and call of Christ
as recorded in scripture:
(Matthew
11:28-30) "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and
I will give you rest. {29} "Take My yoke upon you, and learn
from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and YOU SHALL FIND
REST FOR YOUR SOULS. {30} "For My yoke is easy, and My load
is light."
All
men are burdened to some degree with a load of guilt based on a
knowledge of their own sin and failure. The only way to find rest
from this burden is to lay it all on the back of Him who alone was
willing and able to carry it all away forever. Only when the heart
has trusted in the perfect and complete atonement found in and through
Jesus Christ will there be rest. Once that burden has been given
to Jesus one can then take His yoke upon them - a yoke that is described
as easy with a load that is light. Having been forgiven of sin through
faith, Jesus then calls others to begin to learn from Him how to
live a life of real value and meaning. There is no demand for perfection
only a call to learn and grow in and through Him. A call to learn
how to live and love as God intended.
Jesus
is not just calling a select few but He is calling all men to Himself.
He promises that anyone who comes to Him will not be rejected. All
are welcome and promised His Love.
(John
6:37) "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the
one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.
One
might wonder what it is that makes the call of Christ so attractive.
While Jesus promises peace, rest and abundant life the one thing
above all that draws men to Himself is His love. Jesus said:
(John
12:32) "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw
all men to Myself."
THE
LOVE OF GOD
When
Jesus was lifted on the cross of Calvary the unfathomable love of
God was demonstrated for all time and eternity.
At Calvary, God out of a heart of love, gave His Son
as an atonement for the sins of the world. For His part, Jesus willingly went to the cross and laid down His
life so that all would have the opportunity to find forgiveness of sin through
Him. In these two actions we have a powerful demonstration of the
love of the Father and of His Son Jesus Christ for this world.
(Romans
5:8) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
(John
3:16) "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal
life.
(John
15:13) "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down
his life for his friends.
When
a person becomes the object of God's love and the love of His Son
Jesus there is security, protection, provision and blessing for
time and eternity. The apostle Paul realized the value of this love
and explained it in these terms:
(Romans
8:31-39) What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us,
who is against us? {32} He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered
Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us
all things? {33} Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God
is the one who justifies; {34} who is the one who condemns? Christ
Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the
right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. {35} Who shall separate
us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution,
or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? {36} Just as it is
written, "FOR THY SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;
WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED." {37} But in
all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved
us. {38} For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels,
nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor
powers, {39} nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing,
shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ
Jesus our Lord.
We
can overcome all things in and through this love but before we can
fully experience it we must come to Jesus and invite Him into our
lives as Savior and Lord. According to the word of God Jesus stands
at the door of each man's heart, knocking and waiting for the invitation
to come in. He promises that He will become a part of the life of
those who open their hearts and lives to Him through faith. Have
you come to Jesus Christ and opened the door of your heart to Him?
Jesus said:
(Revelation
3:20) 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My
voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with
him, and he with Me.
Everyone
reading this is encouraged to respond to the love of God and the
invitation of Jesus by opening the door of their heart by faith
to a very real relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior from Sin
and Lord of their life.
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