The Invitation

It is Saturday and you are making your usual track to the mail box to see what might be waiting for you.  Quite often it is only bills and junk mail, but today there is a special envelope.  From the size, shape and quality of the envelope you know this is not something ordinary but special.  It looks to be about the size of an invitation to a special event and sure enough it is an invitation.  But this is not just an ordinary invitation to a wedding or baby shower, rather this is an invitation from Jesus himself.  The invitation is personalized with your name and signed Your Savior, Jesus.  And there are only two words written "Follow Me".
I hope painting a scene like this will help you and I understand the beautiful invitation which Jesus gives us to Follow Him.  It is unlike any invitation you will ever receive.  And even though it cost Jesus his life to offer this invitation, the choice is left up to us whether we will accept or reject.  
There are some things you should know about this invitation.  This is an invitation to come and die and let Christ live in you.  This is an invitation in which everyone is included but is very personal in nature.  This is an invitation which will transform your life.  Jesus will transform  you from the inside out.  Finally this is an invitation which is life-changing.  You have no idea where Jesus might lead you.  Jesus has lead some to foreign lands to make disciples while others simply across the street to do the same.  But the journey is life-changing.  
So what have you done with your invitation?  Is it sitting in a junk drawer or perhaps it is jammed in with our mail you need to respond to?  Perhaps you said yes only to realize at some point you left the path with Jesus to pursue something else.  Today is great day to sing the simple phrase from the chorus "I have decided to follow Jesus no turning back no turning back."
You and I have been invited to follow Jesus.  
Are you following Him?


Pastor Ed