Come to Me

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, 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).

Salvation is a matter of grace and faith. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). Grace is God’s kindness and love shown toward us. It cannot be earned, deserved, or purchased by us. It is a gift from God. Faith is the ability to believe, trust, and obey God. It too is a gift from God. He extends to us His grace and faith, but we have to receive His grace and exercise faith in Him if we are to be saved. We can appreciate this, but we cannot fully understand it.

The focus of salvation is Jesus Christ. God saves us through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. It cannot be experienced through any human means. The church? No. The sacraments? No. Religious discipline? No. Religious activities, ceremonies, traditions, rituals? No, no, no, no. Jesus said to him (Thomas), "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14:6). Peter said, "Let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead - by this name this man stands here before you in good health. He is the Stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the Chief Corner Stone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:10-12).

To come to Jesus is to submit to His lordship. You sense a need in your life. You understand Jesus can answer that need. You come to Him believing He can help you. That’s submission to Him and His lordship, otherwise you would not come to Him. Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43).

The invitation to come to Jesus does not pertain to salvation only. Believers are to continue to come to Jesus for every need in life. Sometimes the answer to the need is directly from the Lord. Other times He will answer the need through someone or something else. But we come to Him first. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:6-7).

“Lord Jesus, thank You that You are always attentive to our needs, ready to intercede for us and minister to us by Your grace and mercy. While we are often prone to turn to others in times of need, remind us through Your Word and Your Holy Spirit to seek You and Your Kingdom first so that You can add to us all that we are in need of. To Your honor and glory I ask, Amen.”

Pastor