Articles
Just As I Am
Just as I am! Without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me, and that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come! I come! ~Charlotte Elliott, 1834
The Lord’s invitation has always been to come to Jesus as we are, with all of our pains, struggles, and shortcomings. Often, carrying with us burdens too heavy to bear. Yet, Jesus calls us all the same, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Yes, Jesus calls us to Him, but is it possible that we have misunderstood His calling? Can we really come to Him “just as I am” and everything will be fine? Or, are we missing part of what His invitation is really all about? Is it possible to remain “the same” [just as I am], when we give our life to the Lord? I can’t help but think that may be the perspective of so many in the religious world today. I want Jesus in my time and in my way. I want to follow Jesus in the way that makes me feel most comfortable.
But read on a little further as Jesus explains what it means to follow, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls” (Mt. 11:29). Did you catch that? “Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me,…” Coming to Christ as my Lord and Savior demands a life change. A yoke, literally used to bind animals together, was a metaphor for submission in the ancient world (Dt. 28:48; Jer. 27:1-11). We are called to be “obedient” to the Lord and learn from Him. Jesus had to learn obedience to His Heavenly Father. “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered” (Hebrews 5:8). We, too, must learn obedience as we begin our life with Jesus. “This is the love for God: to obey His commands” (1 John 5:3, NIV). When we truly submit to the Lord we will find rest for our souls.
I can’t help but think the reason so many people today (including Christians) are discontent is because we have never really submitted ourselves to Jesus Christ. We have come to Him, but remain “just as I am”. The apostle Paul wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me” (Gal. 2:20).
Yes, come to Jesus just as you are and enjoy His wonderful grace, but be ready to give up your way of living. Be obedient to the Lord and Savior and begin to see the changes in your life. Better yet, begin to see the impact you will have on friends and family as they see your life in Christ begin to grow. ~P. Mowrer
JUST AS I A M ?
Just as I am! Without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me, and that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come! I come! ~Charlotte Elliott, 1834
The Lord’s invitation has always been to come to Jesus as we are, with all of our pains, struggles, and shortcomings. Often, carrying with us burdens too heavy to bear. Yet, Jesus calls us all the same, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Yes, Jesus calls us to Him, but is it possible that we have misunderstood His calling? Can we really come to Him “just as I am” and everything will be fine? Or, are we missing part of what His invitation is really all about? Is it possible to remain “the same” [just as I am], when we give our life to the Lord? I can’t help but think that may be the perspective of so many in the religious world today. I want Jesus in my time and in my way. I want to follow Jesus in the way that makes me feel most comfortable.
But read on a little further as Jesus explains what it means to follow, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls” (Mt. 11:29). Did you catch that? “Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me,…” Coming to Christ as my Lord and Savior demands a life change. A yoke, literally used to bind animals together, was a metaphor for submission in the ancient world (Dt. 28:48; Jer. 27:1-11). We are called to be “obedient” to the Lord and learn from Him. Jesus had to learn obedience to His Heavenly Father. “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered” (Hebrews 5:8). We, too, must learn obedience as we begin our life with Jesus. “This is the love for God: to obey His commands” (1 John 5:3, NIV). When we truly submit to the Lord we will find rest for our souls.
I can’t help but think the reason so many people today (including Christians) are discontent is because we have never really submitted ourselves to Jesus Christ. We have come to Him, but remain “just as I am”. The apostle Paul wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me” (Gal. 2:20).
Yes, come to Jesus just as you are and enjoy His wonderful grace, but be ready to give up your way of living. Be obedient to the Lord and Savior and begin to see the changes in your life. Better yet, begin to see the impact you will have on friends and family as they see your life in Christ begin to grow. ~P. Mowrer
