WATCHWORD:
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
Meditation:
Come to Me
Remember those Billy Graham Gospel rallies, held in large auditoriums, where he preached a stirring sermon and ended with an invitation to come and receive a blessing of the Lord, and the music begins, and we hear the words that seem to require us to sing along:
Just as I am without one plea
but that thy blood was shed for me
and that thou bidst me come to thee
O Lamb of God I come.
How hard was that for some, stirred by the words of Graham, to stand from their seats and walk down in front of all those people, to stand before the stage. It was like a confession before a crowd. I’m sure at first it was anxiety producing, but when you saw so many others accepting the invitation to come, then the walk became easier. Then maybe after the blessing, they walked away with lighter steps and a heart filled with a sense of peace. Had you been there, would you have responded? Did you? Were you there?
I think about Andrew and his brother Simon and those others, James and John, being invited by Jesus to come follow Him. How hard it must have been for them to turn their backs on the business that sustained their families, and follow.
Jesus was no stranger to them, they knew him well. They had been to his house many times as Jesus began his ministry. But still, when they heard those words to come and follow. They had to know that something different, more inclusive, was happening, one that required a life-changing decision before they could truly follow. It was not as if they were being called to a gathering at His house, they were being called to a different kind of life, something far beyond where their imaginations could take them.
How often have you come to God in our prayer life and heard the voice of God call us to some task, some purpose? Maybe you thought it was just your conscience kicking in and reminding you of something you intend to do. Or a nice thing for that person down the street. Or perhaps, like me, you take out that little spiral notepad, jot a note and write on it later. Or have you left your time with God and simply gotten on with your life, without a thought to that voice?
Think about the rich young ruler who departed sad from what Jesus had invited him to do, and walked away because he was he has much wealth. How willing would we be, or have we been to turn our back on comfort for another? Or do you spell a portion of our wealth or others less fortunate? Sometimes the hard decisions follow in the wake of Jesus invitation to come, follow me.
I believe that to answer the call to come and follow Him, carries with it a surrender quality that says I will follow you wherever you lead me, Lord. It takes an almost blind loyalty to say, though I don’t know where we’re going and I don’t know what lies ahead, still, I’m following you, Lord, and that is enough for me.
The Lord tells us that some of his richest blessings are just around the corner, beyond the next bend, out of sight but nevertheless very real. We are called to do an impossible thing — to walk by faith and not by sight. That means turning your back on the visible world and putting all your trust on the invisible Shepherd, the One that is right there in your heart. Amen.
Sing the Prayer — Just As I Am:
Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot
O Lamb of God, I come, I come
I come broken to be mended
I come wounded to be healed
I come desperate to be rescued
I come empty to be filled
I come guilty to be pardoned
By the blood of Christ the Lamb
And I’m welcomed with open arms
Praise God, just as I am
Just as I am, I would be lost
But mercy and grace my freedom bought
And now to glory in Your cross
Oh Lamb of God I come, I come.
Amen.
