Come Unto Me

The Bible is a unique and wonderful book.  It tells us essential information about God not available anywhere else!  Why is this so?  Because it's God's book.  He is the author! He is the One who made caused the content to make it happen.  One thing in particular I want to mention is how unique the word of God is compared to other literature.  In the first century, Homer wrote the Illiad and the Oddyssey.  His fans made copies of his works.  To date there are around 400 copies of Homer's work, (from the first century), Scripture on the other hand, was copied (by hand) close to 20000 times in the first 100 years after Jesus.  There is no comparison.  It's because of the power in the message of Scripture.

Today in my devotions, I came across this quote (1) from Augustine. It's a reference to Matthew 11:28

I have read in Plato and Cicero sayings that are very wise and very beautiful; but I have never read in either of them, “Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy burdened.”

—St. Augustine

Glory to God!  The words of Jesus, to draw us in, to bring us close in relationship to Him.  Jesus did not come to the earth to get rich, famous, or gain power.  He had it all before He came (Philippians 2:1-18), but He came to redeem us!  He came to call us to Himself.  Scripture can be trusted.  

When I hear or read the phrase "Come Unto Me", I'm often reminded of the great hymn by Charles Price Jones (hint, click on his name and be taken to a site that talks about the writer and the songs he has written)

May the words of this song bless you today:

 Hear the blessèd Savior calling the oppressed,

“O ye heavy laden, come to Me and rest.
Come, no longer tarry, I your load will bear,
Bring Me every burden, bring Me every care.”

Refrain

Come unto Me, I will give you rest;
Take My yoke upon you, hear Me and be blessed.
I am meek and lowly, come and trust My might.
Come, My yoke is easy, and My burden’s light.

Are you disappointed, wandering here and there,
Dragging chains of doubt and loaded down with care?
Do unholy feelings struggle in your breast?
Bring your case to Jesus—He will give you rest.

Stumbling on the mountains dark with sin and shame,
Stumbling toward the pit of hell’s consuming flame.
By the powers of sin deluded and oppressed,
Hear the tender Shepherd, “Come to Me and rest.”

Have you by temptation often conquered been,
Has a sense of weakness brought distress within?
Christ will sanctify you, if you’ll claim His best.

In the Holy Spirit, He will give you rest.2

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 1. (Osbeck, Kenneth W. Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions, p 177. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1996.)


2, http://nethymnal.org/bio/j/o/n/jones_cp.htm