From: Beverly French [frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us]
Sent: Sunday, September 05, 2004 6:24 AM
To: Heritage
Subject: September 5th Greetings

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

How wonderful to know that there is a place of quiet rest available in this world of error and confusion for those who accept God's provision and
His invitation to 'come'.   Let's look at the 'comes' of God in the
Scriptures.  The invitation to come starts in Genesis and we find that it goes through to Revelation:

Come into the place of safety:
"Then the Lord said to Noah, 'Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.'" Genesis 7:1

Come to a goodly fellowship:
"Now Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, 'We are setting out for the place of which the Lord said, 'I will give it to you.' Come with us, and we will treat you well; for the Lord has promised good things to Israel.'"  Numbers 10:29

Come for personal cleansing:
"'Come now, and let us reason together," says the Lord,
 'Though your sins are like scarlet,
 They shall be as white as snow;
 Though they are red like crimson,
 They shall be as wool.'"  Isaiah 1:18

Come for a satisfying portion:
"Ho!  Everyone who thirsts,
 Come to the waters;
 And you who have no money,
 Come, buy and eat.
 Yes, come, buy wine and milk
 Without money and without price...
 Listen diligently to Me, and eat what is good,
 And let your soul delight itself in abundance."  Isaiah 55:1-2

Come for rest of the soul:
Read once again our opening Scripture verse.

Come at the King's urgent invitation:
"Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, 'See I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready.  Come to the wedding.'"  Matthew 22:4

Come to the Gospel feast:
"Then He said to him, 'A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, 'Come, for all things are now ready.'"  Luke 14:16-17  (Read the whole parable of the Great Supper Vs. 15-24)

Come to the threefold call:
"And the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!'  And let him who hears say 'Come!'  And let him who thirsts Come.  And whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely."  Revelation 22:17

To all who respond to that invitation to Come! there is found cleansing, safety, fellowship, rest, spiritual food and the satisfying of needs. The One who has provided all the "Comes" is the One who "So loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in (trusts in, relies on, clings to) Him should not perish, but have eternal life."

Thank you Lord, that you made our hearts ready to respond to that invitation to Come!  Today let us come to worship as the chorus the song says:

Come, now is the time to worship.
Come, now is the time to give your heart.
Come, just as you are to worship.
Come, just as you are, before your God.
Come.

Praise and Bless our God Almighty forever!