The Miracle of Invitation

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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.” (Matthew 11:28-29 NKJV)

Every good story begins with what you need to know.

This is why the story of the first Christmas is so important! We get to see who and what would matter to the ministry of Jesus by who was invited to His birth:

• God invited those left out: During Jesus’ day, shepherds were considered dirty, unkempt, and untrustworthy. So then, why did God invite them? They were not praying or doing anything spiritual when the angelic host came. They were just living and working in a field (Luke 2:8). Well, Jesus would spend His ministry going after those whom the religious leaders often despised and overlooked. His Kingdom would be open to any and all who would believe. The religious leaders might not believe that the Savior of the world could be found in a manger, but shepherds did.
• God invited those who sought Him: Although we do not know exactly where the wise men started their journey from, we do know they traveled for hundreds of miles from the East. Why? Because they saw the Bethlehem star and came to worship Jesus (Matthew 2:2). Why were the wise men invited? Because Jesus would spend His ministry on earth inviting in all who were far off from God, but seeking the truth.

If the wise men saw the Bethlehem star from far away, the religious leaders in the next town over should also have seen it and understood its significance. Yet when Herod gathered the chief priests and scribes, they knew the right answer, but they were not looking for the ruler who would shepherd Israel (Matthew 2:3-6). Even if you are in the right place, when you have the wrong heart, you can miss what God is doing!

Thankfully, the angel announced good tidings (good news) of great joy for all people (Luke 2:10). Later, Jesus invited all who needed rest for their souls to come to Him (Matthew 11:28-29).

Regardless of your background or starting point with God, Jesus invites you to rest in Him.

Reflection

Meditate on Matthew 11:28-29. Remember that the great joy of knowing Jesus is still available to all people. What does it feel like to be invited by Jesus to know Him? What is He inviting you into now?