Come

All who are thirsty
All who are weak
Come to the fountain
Dip your heart in the stream of life
Let the pain and the sorrow
Be washed away
In the waves of his mercy
As deep cries out to deep

--From the song "All Who Are Thirsty"

 

Some of you  have been told that you’ve got to get it together to come to Jesus. Maybe you’ve always thought He doesn’t want you because you aren’t “churchy”.  You think you’ve got to fit in with the church goers you know, but you don’t. Perhaps you carry a burden that you thinks makes you too messy for Him. Or maybe you believe it’s too late for you, that you’re too far gone and stuck in your ways. But none of that is true. You, just as you are, are what Jesus wants. Your aches and pains, loads and messiness do not take Him by surprise. Without the mess, none of us ever learn to depend on Him and trust Him. And we will never know what healing is like if we’re “perfect”! He didn’t come for the perfect, but the messy.

 

He didn’t come to make the morally upright more right. He didn’t come to help us follow the rules. He didn’t come to beat  you over the head with the threat of punishment, but to offer you another way – a better way! He came to offer you security, permanent and true. He came to offer you forgiveness from all the stuff you’ve done and grace for what you will do still. He will deliver and bring you right into your true purpose. He wants a relationship with you that Is free from barriers caused by a hard heart, shame, bitterness, judgment, self hate or the hate of others. He will set you free from them all as you journey with Him.

 

He won’t make you do anything you don’t want to do, granted obedience it a choice and love always offers one. But you’ll find that His way always ends better than yours. He won’t make you act, look, dress and think like your fellow believers. We’re all created to express an aspect of His vast creativity and we are never more unique than when we follow, listen to and interact with Him. Whatever you inherited from your Father will come out in relationship.

 

Jesus never expected perfection from us. He came because, without Him,  we cannot experience freedom in order to truly live out our time here with purpose. He came because He loves us too much to see us live in shame and condemnation and with hard hearts that separate us from truly hearing from and interacting with our Father. He doesn’t care if you go to church; it isn’t a qualifier to get His love. He doesn’t care if you know scripture, but He will teach you. He really doesn’t care what you’ve done wrong because His forgiveness, when you ask for it, is unlimited. His hands are held out, arms full of love for you. He welcomes you- just as you are, right now and every day after. You’ll never know your purpose better than what He shows you through relationship. Be courageous and take His hand!