Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

The Amplified version suggest this weariness and heavy burdens may be the result of ‘religious rituals that provide no peace’, and that the rest Jesus offers us can ‘refresh our souls with salvation’.

Perhaps you are one of those who have faithfully taken your place in the pew every week, but still find yourself grappling with more questions than answers. Or maybe you would describe your spiritual life as being similar to where I was for a long time...somewhere in-between ‘auto-pilot’ and on ‘life-support’.

Maybe you’re feeling the weight and burdens from a world whose wheels seem to have come off the rails and the darkness and division and despair that appears to be swallowing up the multitudes has pushed you closer and closer to the dreaded ‘edge’. You have reached that place where quoting catchy phrases, and/or Bible verses doesn't ‘do it’ for you anymore, and no matter how hard you try to muster up whatever drops of faith you have left as you sing passionately in every worship service...you know the well is dangerously low.

I have good news for you. Jesus been waiting for you to get to this place. He sees you, He hears you, and He’s ready and willing to renew and revive you, and bring you into that ‘good land’ that still flows with milk and honey. But there’s a ‘catch’: You have to ‘come to Him’.

Jesus told one group: “You carefully search and study the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it’s true- these scriptures bear witness and point to Me. But...you are not willing to come to Me that you might have this life I speak of.”

Jesus came that they (those who hear His voice and follow Him) that they might have life and that they may have it more abundantly and to the fullest.

But you have to come to Him and then follow Him. And He will speak to you; I promise.

How often...has He wanted to gather our children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings...but we were not willing...[to come to Him]...?

God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. We all...every last one of us...were already condemned and under judgement. And this was the verdict: Light came into the world and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Everyone practicing ‘evil’ hates the light and does not come to the light.

The god of this age (who has the whole world under his control) has blinded the minds of those who are perishing- those who do not believe...lest the light of this gospel should shine on them.

This gospel is veiled to those who are perishing. Nevertheless...when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. “....when one turns to the Lord...the veil is taken away...”

This is the same gospel Paul was sent by Jesus to proclaim to the Gentiles- to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to the power of God...that they might receive forgiveness of sins...along with an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Christ.

But you still have to turn...and come to Him first. Apart from Him, you cannot have this life He offers... and you will remain in darkness and death forever.

Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys that await those who take refuge in him!

But you have to come to Him...with all your heart. 

And whoever comes to Him...He will never cast away or reject.

But you have to come to Him with all your heart...and should you make that turn, that step, and surrender as you lay your heart humbly before Him...He in turn will draw near to you. You have His word on this. And you will know it when He does.

And just maybe some of you who are reading and made it this far here today but don’t consider yourself to be ‘super spiritual’ or ‘religious’, let alone a ‘follower of Jesus’... then I have good news for you as well. The same promise is available to you also. He’s been waiting for you as well. It’s possible that one of the obstacles that has hindered you from making that first step in coming to Him...is you have not liked what you have seen in many who do ‘profess to know Him...but in their actions they deny Him’... I get that. But more importantly...He gets it. That’s ok...don’t worry about them; He will sort them all out later. Just come to Him...now...with all your heart.

But also know that He will test your heart...to see how serious you are about ...coming to Him should you draw near to Him. Just do whatever He tells you to do. You won’t regret it.

The Lord is good...and He has a deep well overflowing with living water and He invites you to come to Him and drink...

You just have to come to Him...with all your heart. What are you waiting for?

[Matt. 11:28-30; John 5:39-40; John 10:10,27; Matt. 23:37; John 3:17-21,36; 2 Cor. 4:3-4; 1 John 5:19; 2 Cor. 3:16; Acts 26:18; John 15:1-8; Ps. 34:8; John 6:37; James 4:7-10; Acts 3:19; Titus 1:16; John 2:5; Matt. 7:22-23; 13:36-43; 25:31-46; Deut. 8:2; 1 Thess. 2:4; John 4:14; 7:38; Deut. 30]