“A Special Invitation”
Grace to you and
peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen
Our text is today’s
Gospel Reading, especially this verse, “A Special Invitation” of Jesus: “Come
with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
In today’s Gospel
Reading, Jesus and the apostles were very busy, really too busy, overwhelmed by
all the demands thrust upon them. The
apostles had just returned from an intense missionary tour.
They gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and
taught. But, so many others were
coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat.
So, Jesus gives the apostles “A Special Invitation”:
“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
Jesus and the
apostles were very busy, really too busy, overwhelmed by all the demands thrust
upon them. Is that how you feel
sometimes? Too much to do, and not
enough time to do it? People pulling
you every which way? Really too
busy, overwhelmed by all the demands thrust upon you?
Jesus knows exactly
how you feel, for although he was divine, he was also human.
According to his human nature, EVEN Jesus felt the weariness of all the
constant pressure. Jesus felt it in
himself, and saw it in the apostles.
So, Jesus gives “A Special Invitation” to the apostles and “A Special
Invitation” to you, too. “A Special
Invitation” that is like a prescription for you from the Physician of souls, a
prescription for your fatigue, your exhaustion, your weariness:
“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
Come with Jesus to
the quiet place of prayer; come with Jesus to encounter him in his word; come
with Jesus to worship him here in his house on the day of rest; come with Jesus
to eat and drink for your spiritual refreshment at his holy table.
“A wonderful idea,
pastor, if only I had the time.” We
think we’re just too busy. But,
friend, are you really too busy for Jesus, are you really too busy to accept his
special invitation—or is it a matter of priorities?
The fact is, even though our lives are very busy, we nevertheless seem to
find the time for all sorts of other endeavors, we seem to find the time for all
sorts of other people. Who is it
that so often loses out? Who is it
that we so often put last? The very
One we should be putting first in our lives, first in our priorities.
“Come unto me,” Jesus
says, “all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. . . you
will find rest for your souls.”
Jesus waits for you with open arms.
Jesus loves you so much that he died for you, to earn you a place in his
Father’s kingdom. Jesus forgives you
all your sins, and he invites you to come and find peace in him.
As St. Paul says in today’s Epistle Reading, “In Christ Jesus you who
once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
For he himself is our peace.”
“Come with me by
yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
Take time with Jesus to rest and rejuvenate your spirit in prayer.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known unto God.”
“Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and
requests.” “Take it to the Lord in
prayer.” Take time with Jesus to
rest and rejuvenate your spirit in prayer.
“Come with me by
yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
Take time with Jesus to rest and rejuvenate your spirit by encountering
him in his word: “All Scripture is
given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be
thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
“Take up . . . the sword of
the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
“I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for the
salvation of everyone who believes.”
Inject the “power of God” into your life, take time with Jesus to rest and
rejuvenate your spirit by encountering him in his word.
“Come with me by
yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
Take time with Jesus to rest and rejuvenate your spirit by worshipping
him here in his house on the day of rest:
“I rejoiced with those who said unto me, ‘Let us go to the house of the
Lord.’” “Sing psalms, hymns and
spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”
“O come, let us worship the Lord.”
“Remember the Sabbath day.”
Take time with Jesus to rest and rejuvenate your spirit by worshipping him here
in his house on the day of rest.
“Come with me by
yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
Take time with Jesus to rest and rejuvenate your spirit by coming to his
altar, to his Holy Supper: “The cup
of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The
bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?”
“This do in remembrance of me.”
“I will take the cup of salvation and will call on the name of the Lord.”
Take time with Jesus to rest and rejuvenate your spirit by coming to his
altar, to his Holy Supper.
“Come with me by
yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
A few days ago they finally broke ground for a memorial in Kansas City
for victims of one of the worst structural engineering failures in modern times.
On July 17, 1981 the lobby of a brand new hotel was crowded for a popular
weekly dance, when a skywalk running through the lobby collapsed.
That disaster was caused by improper installation of the skywalk
resulting in a phenomenon called “metal fatigue.”
If you put too much pressure on a piece of metal, without the proper
support, it will wear out and snap.
Right now are you
suffering from “soul fatigue,” putting on too much pressure, without the proper
spiritual support? Jesus gives you
“A Special Invitation” that is like a prescription for you from the Physician of
souls, a prescription to prevent “soul fatigue.”
“Come with me by
yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
Before you wear out and snap, take time with Jesus.
Take time with Jesus to rest and rejuvenate your spirit in the quiet
place of prayer; take time with Jesus to rest and rejuvenate your spirit by
encountering him in his word; take time with Jesus to rest and rejuvenate your
spirit by worshipping him here in his house on the day of rest; take time with
Jesus to rest and rejuvenate your spirit by eating and drinking for your
spiritual refreshment at his holy table.
Accept his special
invitation to YOU: “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some
rest.” Return to Top | Return to Sermons | Home | Email Church Office
|