Come as You Are!
* “Come as you are!” But… does it mean that when Christ comes into someone’s life nothing happens… nothing changes? No, it means that He loves you and you can come to Him with all your struggles, frustrations, irritations and failures – those things that make our heads spin. It means He is there to help you change and give you life that is amazing – a life that goes on forever… much more than the energizer bunny.
* Did you ever sing the hymn “Just as I am without one plea…”? It says that Jesus calls us to come to Him exactly the way we are… Even if we have a lot of dirt in our life - He can clean us from inside out. When Jesus calls, I will go… yeah, I will go! How ‘bout you?
* I know, the phrase “come as you are,” is not a direct quote from the Bible, but it does tell me how God deals with us. It tells me about His grace. It tells me that God does not expect me to be already clean or and make myself “presentable” first and then come to Him. No, not at all… If that was the case I would not need Jesus.
* It reminds me of a verse in Joel 2:32: “…everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”Our life-long failures will be fixed. God says in Isaiah 1:18, “’Come now, let's settle this… ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.’”
* We need something more in life & God gives it to us. Jesus said in Revelation 22:17 “Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.” This is quite an invitation! Even though God knows that we are not even close to be all we should be, He still wants us to come to Him as we are - He can fix our broken life. That is how Jesus dealt with people He encountered.
* Sometimes well-meaning people tell others to “clean up their lives” before God will accept them, but that is not what we see in Scripture. He loved people, saved them… helped them to get their lives on track and then told them not to mess up anymore. To a woman who was caught in adultery He said:“Go, and sin no more.” The bad behavior was never ignored, but forgiveness and new life was offered to anyone who recognized his/her sin and was willing to confess & change directions in life.
* Just come… Come as you are! God certainly expects us to leave sin behind, but that happens when Jesus is already with us. It is not a prerequisite! We can’t do it without His help anyhow.
* As we are planning to start a new service & we want to invite all people to come and let Jesus clean up their lives – then the new life begins – a new direction and a new purpose will be in place! We don’t stay in the old rotten routine. Something new and marvelous will happen because He gets a hold of us & changes us. God is amazing, gracious, loving, and forgiving. He saves us when we don’t deserve it.Come as you are and then become the person God wants you to be. Your old self, your frustrations, your failures, your struggles… you may leave at the feet of Jesus. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Jesus in Matthew 11:28. Burdens lifted you will experience the joy of the Lord.
* A young child in church was standing up on the pew, looking around and smiling. His mother grabbed him, shoved him back down into the pew, and walloped him on the legs. His mouth dropped open and he started to cry. She said, "That's better; remember that you're in church." NO! NO! NO! Come… smile… rejoice… because things in your life will change… will be so much better… Jesus will do it for you!
* Come as you are… no need to pretend to be someone you are not… But then… then…transformation! Jesus will change you… You will never be the same again!
Rev. Don Sonntag
* “Come as you are!” But… does it mean that when Christ comes into someone’s life nothing happens… nothing changes? No, it means that He loves you and you can come to Him with all your struggles, frustrations, irritations and failures – those things that make our heads spin. It means He is there to help you change and give you life that is amazing – a life that goes on forever… much more than the energizer bunny.
* Did you ever sing the hymn “Just as I am without one plea…”? It says that Jesus calls us to come to Him exactly the way we are… Even if we have a lot of dirt in our life - He can clean us from inside out. When Jesus calls, I will go… yeah, I will go! How ‘bout you?
* I know, the phrase “come as you are,” is not a direct quote from the Bible, but it does tell me how God deals with us. It tells me about His grace. It tells me that God does not expect me to be already clean or and make myself “presentable” first and then come to Him. No, not at all… If that was the case I would not need Jesus.
* It reminds me of a verse in Joel 2:32: “…everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”Our life-long failures will be fixed. God says in Isaiah 1:18, “’Come now, let's settle this… ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.’”
* We need something more in life & God gives it to us. Jesus said in Revelation 22:17 “Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.” This is quite an invitation! Even though God knows that we are not even close to be all we should be, He still wants us to come to Him as we are - He can fix our broken life. That is how Jesus dealt with people He encountered.
* Sometimes well-meaning people tell others to “clean up their lives” before God will accept them, but that is not what we see in Scripture. He loved people, saved them… helped them to get their lives on track and then told them not to mess up anymore. To a woman who was caught in adultery He said:“Go, and sin no more.” The bad behavior was never ignored, but forgiveness and new life was offered to anyone who recognized his/her sin and was willing to confess & change directions in life.
* Just come… Come as you are! God certainly expects us to leave sin behind, but that happens when Jesus is already with us. It is not a prerequisite! We can’t do it without His help anyhow.
* As we are planning to start a new service & we want to invite all people to come and let Jesus clean up their lives – then the new life begins – a new direction and a new purpose will be in place! We don’t stay in the old rotten routine. Something new and marvelous will happen because He gets a hold of us & changes us. God is amazing, gracious, loving, and forgiving. He saves us when we don’t deserve it.Come as you are and then become the person God wants you to be. Your old self, your frustrations, your failures, your struggles… you may leave at the feet of Jesus. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Jesus in Matthew 11:28. Burdens lifted you will experience the joy of the Lord.
* A young child in church was standing up on the pew, looking around and smiling. His mother grabbed him, shoved him back down into the pew, and walloped him on the legs. His mouth dropped open and he started to cry. She said, "That's better; remember that you're in church." NO! NO! NO! Come… smile… rejoice… because things in your life will change… will be so much better… Jesus will do it for you!
* Come as you are… no need to pretend to be someone you are not… But then… then…transformation! Jesus will change you… You will never be the same again!
Rev. Don Sonntag