JESUS WANTS YOU!
Matthew 11:28-30 records the tender call of Jesus, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
It is fitting that Jesus should be the one to do this calling, for He is the Son of God (Matthew 17:5), our Savior (Luke 2:11), and our Lord. (Revelation 17:14). He gave His precious blood as a lamb without blemish and spot that we might be saved. (1 Peter 1:19; Matthew 26:28; John 19:34). This sacrifice was an expression of supreme love, both on the part of God (John 3:16; 1 John 4:8-21) and Jesus. (John 15:12, 13). We see, therefore, that Jesus has the right to call people to Him.
Jesus wants YOU! His call is to “all ye that labour and are heavy laden.” (Matthew 11:28). He knocks at the door of “all”, “any”. (Revelation 3:20). “Any” and “all”, “whosoever will” come unto Him (Revelation 22:17) by opening the door of your heart to Him will find rest. The disciples of Jesus were told, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15). Beloved, YOU are in the number Jesus calls to Him to be saved. The Lord’s call transcends any and all boundaries, whether social, economic, racial, gender, or any other. Jesus called the rich and poor (Matthew 19:16-22; Mark 12:41-44), physician and fisherman (Colossians 4:14; Matthew 4:18-22), Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:11-22), bond and free (Colossians 3:11), and all others to come unto Him. The apostle Peter told the house of Cornelius, “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” (Acts 10:34, 35; Galatians 3:28).
The Savior calls you to the life that only He can give. (John 5:40; 20:30, 31). He is the life. (John 14:6). He has the power and right to invite you to and give you this life.
Jesus wants you in His church, “which he hath purchased with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28). What a price He paid for the church! Do not be guilty, as are so many, of saying that the church is unimportant. Would you consider something invaluable that you bought with your own blood? No! Neither does Jesus look at His church in that manner. Jesus wants you in His body, His church. (Ephesians 1:22, 23; Colossians 1:18). He has built but one body, church (Ephesians 4:4). The body of Christ is made up of many united members or Christians. (Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; John 15:1-6). Our Lord prayed for His believers, saying, “That they may all be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” (John 17:21). Jesus further stressed His desire for unity of His believers, saying, “that they may be one, even as we are one…that they may be made perfect in one….” (Verses 22, 23). The Holy Spirit moved Paul (1 Corinthians 2:1ff; 2 Peter 1:20, 21) to write, “that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (1 Corinthians 1:10). When all “speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11), the Lord’s
prayer will be answered. However, the devil must be thrilled and “dancing in the streets” when he sees the religious division in the world, with each group speaking different messages, turning people away from Jesus. (John 17:21). Cf. Matthew 12:25, 26.
“The body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:27), also called “the churches of Christ” (Romans 16:16), is the “kingdom” (Matthew 16:18, 19), “the kingdom of God” (John 3:3-5), “the house of God” (1 Timothy 3:15), the “family” (Ephesians 3:15), bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2), and such like. Ephesians 5:23 says Jesus “is the savior of the body.” Nothing is said of Jesus saving anyone outside of His body. That is why we read, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” Verse 47 says, “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” The saved were added to the church at the time of their salvation, because the same thing that put them into Christ (Galatians 3:26, 27) also put them in the body, the church. (1 Corinthians 12:13; Colossians 1:18).
The Lord wants you to do His will to be saved. However, not all will do the Lord’s will, including some religious people. Some who cry, “Lord, Lord”, will be found short of doing His will. (Matthew 7:21-23). Other religious people will worship God, but their worship will be in vain because they do so after the doctrines and commandments of men. (Matthew 15:7-9). The Lord will save those who do HIS will. (James 1:21-25; Hebrews 5:8, 9). The will of the Lord is for all to come to Him, become His bride, be saved in His church. This is done by believing in Jesus and God (John 8:24; Hebrews 11:6), repenting of sins (2 Peter 3:9), confessing Christ as the Son of God (Acts 8:37; Matthew 10:32, 33), and being buried in water baptism for the remission of sins, and added to His church. (Romans 6:1-5; Acts 8:37-39; 1 Peter 3:20, 21; 1 Corinthians 12:13). Thus, the grace of God saves all who walk in the works God ordained. (Ephesians 2:8-10).
NOW is the time Jesus wants you to obey Him. The message of Hebrews 3:7, 13, 15 and 4:7, is, “To day.” 2 Corinthians 6:2 says, “Behold, now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation.” Be like the Philippian jailor, obey Jesus “the same hour of the night” (Acts 16:33) or day. The penitent believers on Pentecost obeyed the “same day.” Do not wait! You may not have another opportunity. Your soul may be taken “this night.” (Luke 12:13-21).
A WARNING! If you reject Jesus, and receive not the word he has spoken, the same words will judge you in the last day. (John 12:48). Those who do not obey the gospel of the Christ will “be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). Beloved, do not allow Satan to continue to deceive you into remaining lost, promising and giving you temporary or seasonal pleasures. (1 Timothy 5:6; Hebrews 11:25). His real wages are often received here in many heartaches. The final wages will be received when this life is over, eternal damnation in a lake of fire called hell. (Matthew 25:33-46; Romans 6:23).
Do you love Jesus? Likely, those who take time to read these things will answer in the affirmative. However, Jesus said, “If ye love
me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15). He also said, “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” (John 15:14). “Let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:18). Beloved, “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.” (John 2:5). Call the person who gave you this tract, and allow the same to assist you in obeying Jesus. You will be so much better. You will be right and saved. (Mark 16:16). “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 3:1-5). The NEW YOU is but a call away.
If you are an unfaithful Christian, having “left your first love” (Revelation 2:4), why not decide right now to “repent, and do the first works” (Revelation 2:5; Acts 8:22-24; James 5:16), as did the prodigal son. (Luke 15:11-32). Jesus wants you active in His kingdom again.
The church of Christ is striving to follow Jesus faithfully in all things at all times. We would be happy to introduce you to Jesus and His way, reasoning together with you, working and worshipping with you, helping one another reach heaven. Cf. Isaiah 1:18. Call the one who gave you this brief study, or write to the address hereon.
IS JESUS THE LORD OF YOUR LIFE?
It Is Written 