#91 COMING TO JESUS 9-5-26
Coming to Jesus. We do not come to a system, a philosophy, or merely a set of religious teachings. We come to a Person. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). The Christian life begins by coming to Christ, continues by coming to Christ, and is sustained by continually drawing near to Christ.
COME IN APPRECIATION
We come to Jesus with appreciation because of what He has done for us. He loved us when we were unlovable. He sought us when we were lost. He bore our sins when we could never bear them ourselves. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
Every blessing we have in Christ ought to produce gratitude in our hearts. We appreciate the cross. We appreciate His mercy. We appreciate His patience. We appreciate His forgiveness. We appreciate the privilege of prayer and the promise of eternal life. “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15). The more we understand what Jesus has done, the more grateful we become.
COME IN EXPECTATION
We also come to Jesus with expectation. Faith expects God to work. We do not come believing that Jesus is distant or indifferent. We come believing that He hears, that He cares, and that He is able. “He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
When we pray, we come expecting God to hear. When we open His Word, we come expecting God to teach us. When we gather with His people, we come expecting encouragement. When we face tomorrow, we come expecting His presence to go with us. We may not know what God will do, but we know who God is. Our expectation is not confidence in circumstances. It is confidence in Christ.
COME IN DEDICATION
Finally, we come to Jesus in dedication. We do not come simply to receive from Him. We come to give ourselves to Him. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1).
Jesus does not ask for one hour on Sunday while the rest of our lives belong to us. He calls us to follow Him. “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). Dedication means saying, “Lord, my life belongs to You.” My plans belong to You. My time belongs to You. My gifts belong to You. My future belongs to You.
Come to Jesus with appreciation for what He has done. Come with expectation for what He will do. Come with dedication, ready to do whatever He calls you to do. And keep coming. When you are weary, come. When you are discouraged, come. When you have failed, come. When you rejoice, come. There is always room at the feet of Jesus.
The invitation has never changed: “Come to Me” (Matthew 11:28). Come with a thankful heart. Come with a believing heart. Come with a surrendered heart. Come to Jesus, and keep coming to Jesus.
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Lord Jesus, thank You for all You have done for us. Give us hearts filled with appreciation, faith filled with expectation, and lives marked by dedication. Help us to come to You every day, trusting Your promises, receiving Your grace, and surrendering ourselves completely to Your will. May our whole life be a continual coming to You. Amen.
BDD
