The Encourager
“OUR LORD’S SEVEN INVITATIONS by Mike Richardson”
When you study the Bible, the word of God, there are some things that stand out. You will recall how Jesus would often repeat someone’s name to make an emphasis as He did with Mary and Simon. You may recall a confrontation Jesus had with the religious leaders of that day in Matthew 23. It may be as you have studied you have noticed Jesus’ response to the hurting. There are so many themes one can observe as they study the Bible. However, it is my objective in this particular article to look at seven invitations issued by our Lord.
(i)Come All You That Labor and are Heavy Laden (Mt.11:28-30). This is a very precious invitation to every sin-burdened soul. Jesus invites us to come to Him who is the Sin-Bearer and cast our burdens upon Him (I Pet.5:7). I stand amazed that Jesus wants to take our burdens. He wants us to trust Him when life is hard. There is no burden so great that He cannot relieve us, no sin so great that He cannot forgive and make us as white as snow.
(ii)Come and See (Jno.1:39). On this occasion, we have two disciples who were honest seekers after truth. They wanted to know more about Jesus and converse with Him about His teaching. They had found their true Master and believed Him to be what He proclaimed, “The Son of God.” The closer we come to Jesus, the more we look to Him, the more content our souls will be. Jesus offers this same invitation today to all people-come and see. In others words, investigate who Jesus is.
(iii)Come and Drink (Jno.7:37). Christ knows the soul of man is parched and only the fountain of life can satisfy the thirst. David made it clear in Psa.42:1-2 that he had a great thirst for God. Jesus informs us that likewise we need to have a great hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matt.5:6). When Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman in John 4 He proclaimed Himself to be living water (Jno.4:10). We are called to come and freely drink of the Living Water. Let your soul find contentment in Him (Isa.55:1).
(iv)Come and Dine (Jno.21:12). After His resurrection, Jesus called the disciples to come and dine. Spiritually, He knows the soul’s hunger. He satisfies the hungry soul; He meets our every need. In Jno.6 His followers were more concerned about physical bread than spiritual bread. Jesus said they need to partake of Him. They need to be consumed with who He is, the Christ, the Redeemer of man. How sad it is that He offers and invites man, and so many turn Him down. The passage in John 6 is not in reference to the Lord’s Supper, but stop for a moment and consider the command to partake of the Lord’s Supper every first day of the week (Acts 20:7). We do so in remembrance of Him! How sad some won’t partake of His memorial feast. It is a shame and a disgrace how little people think of Christ.
(v)Come Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me (Mk.10:21). First, Jesus said one is to deny self. Often self is the
hardest one to deny. This means putting to death the old way of life. No longer focused on self, but now our eyes are on Jesus. In Heb.12:1-2 the Hebrew writer states that Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith. We cannot wear the crown if we will not bear the cross. To walk in His footsteps is to carry a cross (Gal.2:20). We are to put to death the old fleshly desires and life in newness of life (Rom.6:3-4). Our desire now is not to please ourselves, but to please our Lord. Wouldn’t that be something today to see people wanting to follow Christ?
(vi)Come Aside by Yourselves…Rest Awhile (Mk.6:31). Jesus knew at this time the disciples needed to rest their physical bodies. Psa.103:14-15 He knows our frame, that we are dust. He knows our weaknesses, and that the body needs rest. However, just as the body needs rest so does the soul. We should desire more time for meditation. We should want more “quiet time with Christ.” Notice in Scripture before the Lord sent His servants to do an important work He usually called them aside for some quiet time. Moses was sent to the desert for forty years to tend sheep to prepare to lead the people out of Egypt. Paul was sent away for three years into Arabia (Gal.1:17-18) before he began most of his ministry. He who prospers most in spiritual things is he who gets alone and spends time with God. God pity the man that only reflects on God’s Word when he is in a church building. David said in Psalms 1:2-3 he meditated and delighted in God’s Word.
(vii)Come You Blessed…Inherit the Kingdom (Mt.25:34). Here is a picture of the judgement scene. Jesus is speaking to the born-again, joint-heirs with Him to enter into the kingdom of heaven. As new creatures, kings, and priests, we are children of God. On the Day of Judgement what a joy to hear COME YOU BLESSED INHERIT THE KINGDOM. To enter into eternal rest: what an invitation! For one to receive this invitation one must answer all the other invitations Jesus has extended. We must accept all invitations that He has graciously offered. Let us not despise our inheritance, but rather let us willingly walk in the footsteps of the Redeemer (I Pet.2:21).
