CHRIST’S INVITATION
The Word of God tells us that Jesus came to seek and to save that which is lost (Luke 19:10). “That which is lost” refers to people—those who are “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1). Anyone without Jesus Christ is lost in their sins and separated from God.
Jesus came into the world to save sinners (1 Tim. 1:15). We were lost, but Jesus came to seek and to save us. That is what He does. That is what He brings. That is what He gives—salvation. He is the Son of God, the Savior of the world. When John the Baptist saw Jesus walking toward him, he proclaimed, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
Christ is in the saving business. That is His purpose. He came into the world to live a perfect life in our place, to die on the cross for our sins, and to rise again on the third day, proving that God accepted His payment for our sins. Because of what Jesus did for us, we can be forever free from sin and fully restored to a right relationship with God. He is a God whose mercy endures forever.
Jesus pleads with us and invites us to come to Him, but He will never force us. He will not coerce you into becoming one of His followers or into accepting salvation. He offers it freely because He loves you, and He has already done all the work necessary for your salvation. But the gift of salvation must be accepted voluntarily. It is a decision only you can make for yourself.
The great invitation of Jesus is, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). Jesus invites everyone to come to Him. We are all invited to the banquet. We are all invited to the party. Salvation is ours—full and free—because of Jesus Christ.
Once we come to Jesus and receive salvation, we must continue looking to Him. There is no Christian life without constantly fixing our eyes on Him. We look to Him by faith, trusting that He has the power, the ability, and the willingness to bring us to salvation. He would never invite us to come to Him if He did not intend to save us and to keep us saved.
In John 6:29, Jesus says that the “work of God” is that we would believe in the One whom God has sent. To please God, we must believe in Jesus Christ, the Savior. This is the greatest invitation extended to you—“Repent and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15). “Come to me” (Matt. 11:28). Everyone who is “weary and burdened” can come to Jesus and receive salvation.
Know this: You are important. You are important to God. What He thinks of you means more than anything the world can say about you. Jesus gave His life for you. Receive Him into your life, and live for Him. It’s as simple as that. When you do, you will be saved—forever free from sin and the brokenness of this world. Come to Jesus Christ.
Bryan Dewayne Dunaway
