Come to Jesus and Live - revisited

While I write this book, I will be republishing some of the more read BLOG posts from the past 7 years.  

I am also posting the entire text and not just a link to Facebook because I think that the new algorithm is limiting distribution of the hyperlinks I have been using for the devotions I post on my BLOG site. Not just mine. Call it collateral damage from Facebook’s effort to filter out unwanted posts for the users. I get it.

But before I leave you to the BLOG post.  A word of encouragement.  Martie and I went to dinner with a friend last night.  When the waitress gave me the bill, she had written “Happy Holidays” on the top – I put an “X” through it and wrote “Merry Christmas”.  On the way out the two people at the desk said “Happy Holidays”.  I turned around and said – “It’s OK, you can say Merry Christmas to me – I won’t be offended.” The guy said “We were told to use “Happy Holidays”, but Merry Christmas.”  Then the girls also said “Merry Christmas”.  Was I being rude? I don't think so - I was taking a stand.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)   And don’t you be either.  Remember – the darker the night – the brighter the light. (Who said that? I did.)

OSWALD CHAMBERS – “The first thing I must be willing to admit when I begin to examine what controls and dominates me is that I am the one responsible for having yielded myself to whatever it may be. […] There is no power within the human soul itself that is capable of breaking the bondage of the nature created by yielding. For example, yield for one second to anything in the nature of lust, and although you may hate yourself for having yielded, you become enslaved to that thing. (Remember what lust is— “I must have it now,” whether it is the lust of the flesh or the lust of the mind.) No release or escape from it will ever come from any human power, but only through the power of redemption. You must yield yourself in utter humiliation to the only One who can break the dominating power in your life, namely, the Lord Jesus Christ. […] When you yield to something, you will soon realize the tremendous control it has over you. Even though you say, “Oh, I can give up that habit whenever I like,” you will know you can’t. You will find that the habit absolutely dominates you because you willingly yielded to it. It is easy to sing, “He will break every fetter,” while at the same time living a life of obvious slavery to yourself. But yielding to Jesus will break every kind of slavery in any person’s life.” 

 The yoke of the master of lust or self-centeredness is a harsh one.  There is no peace only the demand for more … there is no blessing only a moment of satisfaction before the need to be satisfied rises up again.  There is no love, only the suggestion of affection which is really a tool to get what you want. That thing that controls you is a cruel master – promising peace but only delivering pain.  But then there is Jesus … Matthew 11:28-30  “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." 

 Chris Rice – “Come to Jesus” 

 “Weak and wounded sinner,  Lost and left to die,  O, raise your head for Love is passing by, Come to Jesus and live 

 Now your burden's lifted, And carried far away,  And precious blood has washed away the stain... so Sing to Jesus and live,

 And like a newborn baby, Don't be afraid to crawl, And remember when you walk sometimes we fall... so Fall on Jesus and live,

 Sometimes the way is lonely, And steep and filled with pain, So if your sky is dark and pours the rain... then Cry to Jesus and live,

 O, and when the love spills over, And music fills the night, And when you can't contain you joy inside... then Dance for Jesus and live,

 And with your final heartbeat, Kiss the world goodbye, Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory's side... and Fly to Jesus and live,” 

So, what are you waiting for? An invitation … you’ve got it!