THE INVITATION AND THE GIFT

DR. LARRY LAMB

• One day Jesus an invitation that is joyous at Christmas and every day of the year.
• Matthew 11:28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
• The greatest friend anyone could ever have, the closest friend anyone could have, and best friend offers an invitation – COME TO ME.
• How NOT to come to Jesus:
  – With pride
  – With self-sufficiency
  – With an agenda
  – With works (To be loved I must do)
  
• How to come to Jesus:
  – With simplicity
  – With humility
  – With frequency
  – With His grace (not self-effort)

“God was not bound to provide us a Savior, nor open to us a door of hope, nor call us to repent and turn once we had cast ourselves away by sin, but he hath freely done it to magnify His mercy.”  Richard Baxter

– As His loved friend

Description of people who are in these two places:
1. People who weary/exhausted (What we bring on ourselves).
2. People who heavy burdens (Implying the acts of others).

“Lord, today, help me not to say or do anything that would add to anyone’s burden.” –Chuck Swindoll

• When the weary and burdened person comes to Jesus, the gift is . Resting in His security. It is not my rest but Jesus’ rest. It’s not an intellectual rest but a practical trust.
• The rest that Jesus gives is an inward . There is a storm, but there is also peace. There is upheaval, and yet there is peace. The storm has been extended, but there is peace.

R – recall the faithfulness of God.

E – everything is under the providential care of God.

S – speak words of victory to yourself from God’s Word.

T – trust the timing of God.

• Matthew 6:26-30 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?  27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing,  29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.  30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner. I know that the penalty for my sin is physical, spiritual, and eternal death. I acknowledge that I can’t do anything about my situation. But I know that You came to pay the penalty for my sin. I trust in You alone as the One who died in my place. I repent of my sin and trust in You as the only One who can place me in an eternal relationship with the living God. I desire to be Your child. I desire to live as Your child. In Your name. Amen.

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