Come to me

 “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.”  -Jesus

These verses from Matthew have encouraged Christians for centuries.  They have been comfort, help, and direction for many.  I have heard these verses taught by many pastors and teachers, each with the encouragement of the promise Jesus makes in his offer.

Might I narrow my focus a bit?  Could I talk about just three words in this passage?  The words that have captivated me this morning are these, "Come to ME".  "Come to me" is an invitation to a relationship, an invitation to a person, to a conversation.

For me to even consider such an invitation I must know that the one offering the invitation cares about me, is interested in me and is safe.  And I need to know this person is available....

As I focus my attention on these three words I find them blooming and beginning to produce fruit.  Come to me....for a person living more than 2,000 years after these words were spoken I have to know that his offer is still available, that he's still available.  I also have to know how to approach him, how do I come to him?  How do I find him?

"Come to me" is the boldest and most personal invitation to relationship ever offered by anyone.  It puts the Christian faith in a completely different category from any other faith.  It makes this thing called Christianity all about relationship....a relationship with someone who, with just three words, has invited us all to know him, to talk to him, to share our lives with him.

There is another subtle nuance that must be mentioned....for me to come to him these 2,000 years later he must still be alive and able to welcome me.  He cannot be in the grave or his offer was just mean, cruel and the words of a liar; but if his words apply to me and you then he must be alive and still speaking these words to the generation I live in.

Come to me.  It's probably the grandest most loving invitation ever offered....for God in flesh, Jesus Christ, to say to me, "come to me...." and welcome me to a relationship, to his love, to acceptance, to his home and eternity ahead....why it's more glorious than I can even imagine.  Who could ever think of three words that would be more important than these?  

"Come to me" was and is an invitation by Jesus to every man.  An invitation into an intimate relationship with the God who made us.  No other religion, no other god has ever made such a wonderful offer, such an amazing invitation.  How could we possibly say no?