Come to me, all 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-20

Over the last two weekends, Patrina and I had the opportunity to listen to one of our favorite pastors, Alistair Begg, as we traveled to and from the Finger Lake region of New York.

Last Sunday Alistair began a series of sermons based on the passage above and over the next few days, I’ll share some of my notes based on this well-known passage.

An invitation demands a decision. Earlier this week, Patrina sent an invitation to a group of friends for a gathering. One couple has already declined due to some family complications. Another has confirmed and so we wait for the others.

In the passage above, Jesus presents an invitation that is:

• Timeless – Jesus initially made his invitation to Come to Me to his disciples and to the people who were alive and able to hear his message. For two thousand years that message is still available to those who will respond.
• Personal – The invitation to Come to Christ is to each one of us no matter how we labor through our lives and how heavy the burden we carry. Each of us carries a different load with different pressures and difficulties, yet Jesus calls to us individually,
• Universal – Jesus’ invitation is personal, but it is also for everyone – “all who labor and are heavy-laden. No one is left out. Everyone has the opportunity.

While this message is timeless, personal, and universal, there is a deadline for each of us.

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Hebrews 9:27-28

Let us respond to his invitation while we can.