I love to be invited. I am sure you do too. An invitation makes us feel special, thats why we take invitations seriously. An invitation – to go out on a date or attend a friends-only event or even to simply just come over for coffee or dinner – makes one feel recognized, loved and accepted.

 

And yet, as special as all invitations are, they are even more special depending on who is extended the invitation. Imagine then receiving an invitation from none other than the Lord Jesus himself. In Matthew 4, I see three great invitations Jesus  – the King of all kings – is extending to us:

 

1. Jesus invites us to follow Him: he is inviting you and I to let him be the our master, the boss over our lives! Why? Because truly no one else deserves to lead us – not even ourselves. I know how bad a leader I can be at work, in my family and even in my church. I feel like Jesus is saying to me: I know you could be such a bad leader; I know you are a potential basket case, and a complete mess. But I can lead you; I want to you lead; will you let me lead you? And you do remember how Jesus leads, right? He is the leader – perhaps the only one I know of – who would pick a bucket of water and a towel to wash the feet of those whom he is leading! That is who is asking me to follow Him? The one who will, and has, laid his neck to take the blow from the ax-man that I deserved. Have you accepted that invitation? What is keeping you from making this decision – to follow Jesus?  Right now, you are following something or someone? Is it Jesus? Or are you following your emotions, what makes sense to you, what your culture says or what your friends say?  Jesus is inviting you to follow him – will you say yes? How do you know if you have accepted his invitation? If you constantly ask this question: “Lord Jesus, what do you want me to do about (fill in the blank)?

 

 

2. Jesus invites you to let  Him change you: when Jesus says “and I will make you..”, he is asking you to accept his invitation to commit to you. Jesus wants to commit to you – to your family, to your career, to your health, to your life. Why? Because He knows that as soon as you’ve accepted His invitation to follow Him, you will need His help to live out that decision. Yes, your will is NECESSARY, but not sufficient to be successful in following Jesus. It is somewhat ironic. Jesus wants you to use your will to say “Yes I will follow” – but 5 seconds after you do that – he wants you to realize that “this thing I have said Yes to – I can’t actually do it by myself!” But then he says to you – “don’t worry – that’s my part – I WILL MAKE YOU” Yes Jesus is inviting you to say  “Yes, Lord” – then right after also say “Help me, Lord”. Because He will help you in two ways – through His Holy Spirit working in you and through other followers of Jesus with whom you share your life together with in a community. 

 

3. He is inviting you to co-labor with Him: Jesus says the reason why He’s inviting us to follow Him and He’s inviting us to let Him change us is so that we can accept His invitation to join Him in His mission! What honor! What privilege. To be partners with none other than the King of all the universe in blessing this world, in bringing the benefits of the kingdom of heaven to earth. People are Jesus’ method to change the world. Jesus used men who chose to follow Him to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers and cast out demons. Jesus used men who chose to follow him to feed 5,000 men (not counting women and children) with 5 loaves and 2 fish. Just imagine – what could Jesus use you to do in your life time! What an invitation! What a honor! What a privilege! Will you accept this invitation today?

 

There were two categories of people in Jesus ministry when he was on earth. There were the multitudes you came and left once their needs where met. Then there were His co-laborers, His followers. Which one are you? Which one do you want to be? Today, you can be one of those who accept His great invitations and become not just one of the multitudes but one of the partners of King Jesus.