Come to Me


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	COME TO ME
	How often have I heard individuals make demands on God as if He is Santa Claus or a Genie in a bottle. Paul claims all that’s required is faith to obtain your hearts desire from the Lord. But is this true? Do we take time to find out what the Word says for ourselves? For those who were unaware; I hope this study will speak truth and commitment into your soul. For those who know, I hope this strengthens your resolve to follow Christ. To the Tired Jesus Says Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ 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. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." NOTE – Jesus tells us to learn from Him. Too often we turn to Paul or anyone else before we consider the Words of Christ. About the Children, Jesus Says *Matthew 19:14* “But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." *Mark 10:13-14* “Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. ¹⁴ But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. *Luke 18:15-17* “Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. ¹⁶ But Jesus called them to Him and said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. ¹⁷ Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." To All, Jesus Says John 7:33-39 “Then Jesus said to them, "I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me. ³⁴ You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come." ³⁵ Then the Jews said among themselves, "Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? ³⁶ What is this thing that He said, You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come?" ³⁷ On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. ³⁸ He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." ³⁹ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 8:21-24 “Then Jesus said to them again, "I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come." ²² So the Jews said, "Will He kill Himself, because He says, Where I go you cannot come?" ²³ And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. ²⁴ Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." To His Followers - His Disciples - Jesus Says Matthew 16:24-25 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. ²⁵ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. NOTE – Jesus told the disciples to take up their cross long before He was lifted up on His. NOTE – “desires” is from the same Greek word as “willing” Desires (2309) θέλω, — thel’-o; or eth-el’-o; in certain tenses, thel-eh’-o; and eth-el-eh’-o, which are otherwise obsolete; apparently strengthened from the alternate form of (138) (αἱρέω); to determine (as an active option from subjective impulse; whereas (1014) (βούλομαι) properly denotes rather a passive acquiescence in objective considerations), i.e., choose or prefer (literal or figurative); by implication to wish, i.e. be inclined to (sometimes adverbially gladly); impersonally for the future tense, to be about to; by Hebrew to delight in: — (Translated in King James version as) – desire, be disposed (forward), intend, list, love, mean, please, have rather, (be) will (have, -ling, -ling [ly]). Follow (190 ἀκολουθέω, — ak-ol-oo-theh’-o; (a road); properly to be in the same way with, i.e. to accompany (specially as a disciple): — (Translated in King James version as) follow, reach. Matthew 19:21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." Mark 8:34-38 “When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. ³⁵ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. ³⁶ For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? ³⁷ Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? ³⁸ For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." Luke 9:23-26 “Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. ²⁴ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. ²⁵ For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? ²⁶ For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels. Luke 14:26-33 “"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. ²⁷ And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. ²⁸ For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it- ²⁹ lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, ³⁰ saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish. ³¹ Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? ³² Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. ³³ So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. Hate (3404) μισέω, — mis-eh’-o; (hatred); to detest (especially to persecute); by extension to love less: — (Translated in King James version as) hate (-ful). Forsake (657) ἀποτάσσω, — ap-ot-as’-som-ahee; middle from (575) (ἀπό)and (5021) (τάσσω); literal to say adieu (by departing or dismissing); figurative to renounce: — (Translated in King James version as) bid farewell, forsake, take leave, send away. Luke 18:18-27 “Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" ¹⁹ So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. ²⁰ You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and your mother. " ²¹ And he said, "All these things I have kept from my youth." ²² So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." ²³ But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. ²⁴ And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." ²⁶ And those who heard it said, "Who then can be saved?" ²⁷ But He said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." NOTE – The disciples seem to associate being saved with following Christ Jesus. John 6:37-40 “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. ³⁸ For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. ³⁹ This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. ⁴⁰ And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:44-45 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. ⁴⁵ It is written in the prophets, and they shall all be taught by God. Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. NOTE – In addition to Himself, Jesus said all who have “heard” and “learned from the Father” will come to Him. This is of paramount importance! John 6:63-65 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. ⁶⁴ But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. ⁶⁵ And He said, "Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father." John 14:21-24 “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." ²² Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?" ²³ Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. ²⁴ He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me. NOTE – It appears Jesus does not base our love for Him on mere emotions or verbal proclamations. His meaning of love is truly an action word. It requires proof from us that we mean what we say. Based on what Jesus says here, it is safe to presume if we do not keep His word, we do not love Him. Therefore, He and the Father will not make Their home with us. John 14:28 “You have heard Me say to you, I am going away and coming back to you. If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, I am going to the Father, for My Father is greater than I. John 16:7 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. Acts 1:7-8 “And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. ⁸ But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." The Kingdom of God and the gift of the Holy Spirit are well worth our sacrifice.
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