Such a simple 4 letter word. Come.
What does it mean to you?
This week, this word has swirled around me in readings, songs, and spoken words. The first time it popped out at me was in a book titled “Courageous Women of the Bible” by Latan Roland Murphy. This is a book about different women in the Bible who displayed courage during times weakness. In the 2nd chapter, we see the woman with the issue of blood who touches the hem of Jesus’ garment.
This precious woman teaches us that we need to come to Jesus as we are.
Jesus’ love compels us to courageously come – just as we are:
Come Unclean
Come Cast Out
Come Forbidden
Come Forsaken
Come Forgotten
Come Rejected
Come Abused
Come Defiled
The above is an excerpt taken from page 43 of the book and it speaks truth.
Jesus wants us to come as we are to Him.
Our natural inclination is to wait until we’re cleaner, accepted, or better before we go to Him. It’s the fight between our strength and our weakness – a struggle between our doing and our being.
The first time Jesus speaks the word “come” is in Matthew 4:19.
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
He asks us this same question today. “Come, follow Me.” It’s not an easy journey and so many turn Him down. When they say no to Him, they do not see the sadness that encompasses His entire being.
Why do we fight His invitation so much?
We say things like, “If I go to church, the building will fall in.”
“I’ll go with you to church when I have a better grip on my issues.”
“If I go to church, I’m going to have to change my ways and I’m not sure I want to do that now.”
It’s sad that we think this way but so many of us do.
How do we overcome this thinking?
We overcome it by love, persistence, prayer and example. When we live our lives with Jesus constantly in our thoughts and in our actions, it witnesses to others around us in a way we’d never be able to otherwise.
It’s the magnetic pull of Jesus in us and working through us that attracts others.
Do you know someone who is different from others in this world?
Maybe they are calm, peaceful and joyful – even when they are going through difficulties. I once knew a woman like this who made me hunger for what she had. She demonstrated Jesus in her speech and her actions.
Sadly, she passed away too young but I’m so thankful that I knew her. My life is changed because of knowing her and I know now that it was Jesus in her that attracted me.
This is my goal in the few dozen years we are given here in this world. I want to be the magnet showing others Jesus through me so they will hunger for Him as I do.
It is through our living that we change lives. It’s that simple. We walk out our faith with grace and love allowing Jesus within us to do the rest.
Jesus needs an outlet here in this world to seek our friends and family.
Yes, Jesus can do anything He wishes but He wishes to do His work here in this world through you and me. If we don’t show Him to those around us, they may never see Him from anyone else.
When we are transparent and allow others to see the brokenness in our life and share with them how Jesus made the difference, lives are changed. It’s not something we have the power to do without Jesus; however, when we allow Him to work through us, all things are possible.
Jesus wants nothing more than to be in communion with us.
Yesterday a friend shared that the word communion really means “come union” – to come into union with Jesus. When we come into union with Jesus, transformation happens – in us and around us.
For more on allowing Jesus to work through you, read this post on circumcision and heart issues.
Be sure to leave me a comment or send me an e-mail! I’d love to hear your own personal testimonies about how your witness changed lives. I’m also happy to help you along the way if you desire to be a witness for Christ. I want nothing more than to see all of our lives transformed day-by-day to reflect the very image of Jesus!
Stay in the Light and Love always,
Eva
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