Come

God calls His children. What kind of Father doesn't want to enjoy intimacy with his children?

News Flash: God happens to want that intimacy with us.
He wants to be close, closer, even be the closest to our hearts...

Does that scare you? Perhaps you have got intimacy issues...

MATTHEW 11:28

He calls out "Come". The Hebrew word for 'come' happens to be one used for a number of persons. This means that there is enough of God to go round. You don't have to be left out! To 'come' involves 2 things: taking at least one step from a point, towards another point.

Now, the Lord Jesus made this statement (in Matthew 11:28). Proof? It's written in red. He says to come to Him. He addresses all who labour and are heavy laden. The word 'labour' in Hebrew means, 'to grow weary, tired, exhausted (with toil or burdens or grief); to labour with wearisome effort, to toil (of bodily labour).'

Wow! Isn't it amazing to know that someone else will happily take away your every grief - that which tears your heart apart; every stress issue that leaves you drained, leaves you wanting for a whole lot more out of life, leaves you in tears when no one else is there, makes you sick and tired of everything you know your life is about.

I mean every frustration; every disappointment; every hopelessness; every sorrow; every one of these things that make you want to pack your bags and leave but you don't even know where to go, because the same problems are waiting in the next stop. He'll happily take them off you... He'll trade them for something you probably haven't experienced in a long time.

Do you feel reluctant because you don't think it's for real? You've heard it all before, been there, done that... you came, you saw and were conquered. Perhaps that is why you hear Him call but won't respond when He says "come". He says. "I will give you rest". Rest here means: to cause or permit one to cease from any movement or labour in order to recover and recollect his/her strength; to ease, relieve, refresh.

And He says "come". You do realise that you ain't getting any rest if you don't come to Him (so don't even trip). You have got to do the 'coming' to get the 'resting' (hello...) Check it! Think about it! He says "come... and I will give you rest!"

Okay, coming to Jesus, involves leaving your current location and taking at least one step towards Him, right? It implies that you have got to come out from where you are currently walking, standing, or sitting (read Psalm 1), then make a move towards Him. One of the things I love about Jesus is that He lets you take that step. Please know that one step is a lot. When you take that step, He will take the rest of the 99, to get to you.

See, I know this. I know it because like some of you reading this, I have been there, done that, been through hell's kitchen and licked clean every kitchen utensil you can think of. He needs you to take that step, because in your doing so, you choose Him, you choose His love, you acknowledge Him. This is important to Him, you see, because above all things, He wants that relationship, that intimacy with you. Yes, I'm talking to you!

So come out of where you are... In the bible, God instructs Abraham to come out of where he originally lived - Ur, because he wanted to take him somewhere else - Canaan. God refers to Abraham as His friend. Please tell me how possible that would have been if Abraham had refused God's call and offer of friendship. Abraham was a mere man. Like you. The main thing he did to get such regard from God was respond with a "yes I come", when God called him.

So, come out, from where you are. Perhaps you are still in Egypt and don't want to get delivered. Perhaps you are still living the lie. The lie which stares you in the face every time you look in the mirror. Be honest with yourself, you don't like what you see when those eyes look straight back at you, looking like they are saying "what"? Come out, come out, wherever you are.

Step into Jesus, step into His rest. Its all there for you, available to you. I did!