“Come unto Me…”
Matthew 11:28
The pure essence of the Gospel is summed up in these three simple words. The Divine invitation echoes throughout the world. The Call originates in the Love of God, personified in Jesus Christ.
“For God
so loved the world,
that He gave
His only begotten Son…”
John 3:16
The Gift is God’s response to the need. While it is often presented as a transaction, God’s intent and desire is relationship. It is a birth into His life. In coming to Jesus, we touch the power and splendour of God. We leave our mundane offerings and enter the Divine Mystery, caught up in the eternal pursuit of God.
The Invite
“Come unto Me” is the whisper of the Life of God to be in union with Him. The depth of our compliance to His Call is revealed in our relationship with others who are also captured by the light of Him.
“But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light,
we have fellowship* with one another…”
1 John 1:7
The Greek word here, translated as “fellowship,” is best understood as comprising three distinct aspects: communion, intimacy, and joint participation. The revelation of our walk in the Light of Him is (present tense) expressed in the depth of our “fellowship” with others. A commonality of belief will never culminate in this “fellowship”. It requires a walk and a living relationship with Him to feel the vibrancy of that relationship with others who also live and walk in His Light.
“God is faithful, through whom you were called
INTO the fellowship of His Son…”
1 Corinthians 1:9 (LITV)
The fellowship to which we are called is predicated on the power of our being INTO Him, not a discussion of things about Him. The true “light” of God speaks of a walk, not a belief. Our growth into His Light can only be apprehended by a life of doing His truth.
“But he that doeth truth cometh to the light…”
John 3:21
Our response to the Divine invitation to “come” is what determines our growth, development and apprehension of The Light of Him. The fellowship of the Spirit is the fruit of our relationship with Him.
Related Post: Fellowship and the Quest
“The same bond which unites believers to Christ binds them to each other. The love which is exercised towards the Head extends to the members. The union itself necessarily involves a union of affection. Those who love Christ love those who are like Him and those who are beloved by Him.”
— Gardiner Spring
Brian Troxel
Is Your Light Shining?
I had a dream last night where I was taken to a home by a young blond-haired boy. I am not sure if the fact that the child’s blond hair stood out to me in the dream was significant or not. I remember going into the house and then came out and started up a steep path that was heavily wooded. At the base of the path there was a danger sign of a steep cliff ahead. When I got to the top I saw a lighthouse. The light holder in the lighthouse was turning but there was no light. I remember thinking that this would be extremely dangerous at night because one could fall to their death off the cliff let alone boats out at sea could crash and become shipwrecked because there was no light to warn them of impending danger. Across from the lighthouse a man was seated. I spoke to the man and came to find out that the house below as well as the lighthouse belonged to him. I asked him if the buildings were paid off and he replied yes. He did not seem to care that the light in the lighthouse was not functioning. He seemed quit comfortable sitting across from the lighthouse unlit.
The lighthouse in this dream represents ministry. His light had gone out and he was not concerned at all. His son brought me to the house but never mentioned the lighthouse. The man seemed totally unconcerned that his son’s life was being placed in danger because the light in the lighthouse had gone out. It is a frightening thing to be in darkness and not realize it or even worse to be in darkness and not care.
This dream spoke and is speaking volumes to me about my own life. A lighthouse with a nonworking light is worthless