Time Out for God Devotional Ministry By Danna Appleby Come to Me
Please listen to the song, "Come to Me," as you read. Use the Control Key and Click your mouse to follow link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvzznNAcL24 [From Luke 7:36-50] Jesus was invited to eat at the home of a Pharisee. A sinful woman who was probably a prostitute, carrying an alabaster flask of fragrant oil came and stood at the feet of Jesus as He inclined at the table in preparation to eat. Scarcely realizing what she was doing she threw herself at His feet anointing them with oil as she wept bitter tears. Being in the Presence of Jesus brought heartfelt tears that sprang forth from years of living with guilt and shame. When the Pharisee who invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, "If this man was a prophet, He would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner." Jesus had compassion on the woman and said in response, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore, I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. Jesus looked at the broken woman and said, "Your sins are forgiven." Those sitting at the table began to question, "Who is this that even forgives sins?" Jesus looked at the woman with gentle eyes and said, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace." Scripture doesn't go into detail about a previous encounter between Jesus and the sinful woman before the meal in the home of the Pharisee. But for some reason this woman desperately followed Jesus into the house in spite of what the others would think. In spite of the fact she was not even invited. Jesus must have seen her in the street and looked at her in a way like no other man had. He must have spoken to her in a way like no other. Jesus had to have caused something inside of her to stir and she couldn't help but know He was different. I feel confident that Jesus saw that she had value even though she had no reason to believe differently. She was not to be thrown aside as perhaps many other had. This sinful woman came humbling herself before Jesus in spite of her past. In spite of her reputation. In spite of her shame. In spite of angry stares. She had been a woman with low morals but she would now be referred to as virtuous. She was then made clean and whole as if she had never sinned. She was made pure just by being in the very Presence of the only One who was able to cleanse and restore her. Just as this sinful woman went to Jesus, He beckons you and me to come to Him in the same manner humbling ourselves before Him. When we need forgiveness and mercy there is no greater place to go than into the arms of Jesus. Out of His love and mercy He says to come to Him. We can have any number of needs, but our Savior knows what we're going through and says: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) From out of your darkness, He calls. From out of your brokenness, He calls. From out of your loss, He calls. From out of your sin, He calls. From out of your shame, He calls. From out of your need, He calls. From out of your failure, He calls. From out of your weariness, He calls. From out of your torment, He calls. From out of your battle, He calls. From out of your busyness, He calls. Even if you feel you've lost it all, you still have Jesus. He's calling your name and waits patiently for you to come. Lovingly, He offers His hand of mercy. When your tears fall, He sees them and is touched with your grief, your infirmity, your disease, or your need. There is nothing too big that He can't fix. There is no problem too small that He will not mend it. He understands everything you're going through because He is familiar with painful wounds, rejection, grief, sorrow, weariness, and brokenness. He's experienced it all. Our Savior has expressed to us, "Come to me." His voice is kind and His arms are welcoming. Christ speaks from His Word and says: Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:29-30) The Presence of Jesus comforts us. In my quiet time with the Lord, I can pour out my heart and He will take my heavy burdens from me. A friend of mine told me one time of a vision she had. She saw herself carrying a large suitcase down the aisle of a church. As she knelt at the altar she sat the suitcase there. When she finished praying she got up and carried the heavy suitcase away with her. The Lord let her see that she was taking her burdens to the altar, but instead of leaving them there, she kept them with her. We can take our heavy suitcase filled with burdens to the Lord and He will carry them. We don't have to carry them any longer. Some feel they don't have time to go to sit at the Lord's feet in prayer, but you don't have time not to. Martin Luther said once that he had so much to do that he had to spend at least three hours a day in prayer. We all have too many burdens and the load is too heavy not to take it to the Lord. We have burdens now and we will have many more, but there is One who calls to us from out of the light and says to come to Him and He will give us rest for our souls. Jesus is our: Burden Bearer Load Lifter Care Giver Torment Taker Need Supplier Blessing Giver
Soul Saver Peace Speaker Way Maker Wound Mender Joy Restorer Thirst Quencher Faith Builder Water Parter Breach Repairer Problem Solver Storm Stopper Bill Payer Cup Filler Spirit Filler What do you need from your Savior today? Choose any and all of the above. They're yours for the taking. Come to Jesus. Is anything too difficult for the Lord? No, there is nothing impossible for those who believe. (Matthew 17:20; Luke 1:37) Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers them out of them all. (Psalm 34:19) When we do not spend time at the Lord's feet, it doesn't take long for us to flounder and wonder why. Soon we cannot see clear direction for the path we're to take. We can't see the light through the dark tunnel ahead because we haven't spent time at the Lord's feet in prayer, reading His Word and in meditating upon His Promises. Many times as we travel, my husband will set the cruise control on our vehicle. If we're not careful, we'll cruise on past the gas station. If we don't stop and refuel, we'll cruise ourselves right out of fuel and be stranded in the middle of an interstate. Many times this is what Christians do. They run out of spiritual fuel and have nothing to go on because they didn't stop for a refuel at the Lord's filling station. We run this race on fumes instead of having the richest of fare. We try to live on day old bread. Perhaps last week's sermon. A devotional we enjoyed last month. A remembrance of a wonderful revival years ago. We live life in the fast lane never stopping long enough to refuel ourselves at the Lord's feet where we can find rest, divine help and inspiration. We must settle down long enough in the Presence of our Heavenly Father who calls to us from the midst of our busyness and says: "Come to
* * * * * Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. (Isaiah 58:14) COME TO ME (Used with permission) Written By: © Steve A. Politte Come to Me . . . Come to
Me . . . Come to
Me . . . Come to
Me . . . Come to
Me . . . Come to
Me . . . Come to
Me . . . Come to
Me . . . Come to
Me . . . Come to
Me . . . Come to
Me . . . Come to
Me . . . Come to
Me . . .
|
Translate this page! |
