August 26, 2018
Come as You Are!
“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls…For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)
Perhaps you had the experience of attending a ‘Come as you Are’ party in your younger years. I remember the first time I awoke to the sounds of whispers and giggles outside my bedroom door, and those were very out of place in my home because I was the only one, an only child. And, I can assure you my parents did not sit outside my bedroom door, whispering and giggling…nor did I on a Saturday morning when my own children were asleep. Of course not, those sleeping moments were a precious commodity…
But, occasionally, the sounds of silence were interrupted in our home when my parents participated in a carefully orchestrated plan. At a pre-arranged time, they opened the front door to the whispering-giggling friends waiting on our porch, allowing the pajama clad girls to dash to my bedroom, and burst through the doorway, shouting, “Surprise, Come as you Are!” I will never forget jumping out of bed-and being whisked away by my best friends, all dressed in our favorite PJs, hair a total mess! And, the best part was that we did not care…not one of us!
I don’t think I ever really appreciated the joy and the relief of such a simple event which required absolutely no effort or planning on the part of the guests. What was required was that the guests accepted the invitation, and were willing to go. All of the planning was done by the host family…of course there was food and fun awaiting us when we arrived at their home…but, there were no stipulations on our attire, or on our appearance. We were invited to join in all the fun with whispers and giggles…and each one was invited to ‘Come as you Are’, and we did!
There is something wonderful and comfortable about having family and friends who extend the invitation for you to come as you are, to do life with them. What a relief to be able to wear the jeans, the flannel shirt, the flip-flops ,or pajamas, messy hair, and no make-up…to come with a bare heart…and honest expectations. However, at their absolute best, no matter how wonderful they are, and how much they like you and love you…our loving family and our best friends cannot replicate the invitation that the Messiah extends to humankind when He says, “Come unto Me…”
I was one of many people who fell in love with the idea of the Gospel, but I did not understand the heart of my Father, His mercy and grace, and His love and compassion. I spent far too long attempting to accomplish things in my life which only Jesus could accomplish…I was dependent on myself to fulfill His Word in my life, and was deceived to think that I could earn His forgiveness and His approval.
Like so many others in our world, I did not understand that Jesus carried the cross and offered Himself to be the ultimate and the final payment for my debt, for my sins, and the SIN of all of humankind. I did not know His Love until I accepted His invitation, until I believed that He loved me and paid for everything I had done, thought, said…and everything I would ever do!
Yes, He invites each one of us to ‘Come as we Are’, and then, does His work in us, the work only He can do–no matter how long or how hard we try.
Oh my friends, the invitation Jesus presents is amazing! It says… ‘Come to Me, all of you…every single one of you who feels tired, discouraged, even angry at life, and all of you who carry and drag heavy baggage…heavy loads of life…Come to me anyone who is just too tired, too worn out to go through the motions…too afraid to lie back on a pillow to rest…too guilty for reprieve or pardon, too discouraged to look for or to see hope, too hurt or too wounded. Come to Me; your invitation is personalized, with your name on it. Come to Me; Come as you Are…’ And, He will join you on the journey of your life-time.
Yes, my dear friends, Jesus is the only One who is able and who is willing to take your heavy burdens, problems, mess-ups, mistakes, injuries, wounds, broken-hearts, and every injustice…He rights the wrongs, and pours His Healing salve of Mercy, Grace, and Perfect Love, over your life. And, in doing so, He takes away your heavy, heavy burdens and replaces them with His forgiveness, His love, His acceptance. He refreshes, restores, and gives you His rest. He invites you to ‘Come as you Are’…each and every day of your life!
Love you in Jesus,
P.S. Looking for a Saturday morning activity for your precious ones? Try hosting a ‘Come as you Are’ Party. Your children will never forget it, and neither will you!
