Day 1

In many ways, we’re thankful Instagram, Facebook and other social media didn’t exist when we were in high school. Put it in the category of “ignorance is bliss,” for we have no doubt there were social gatherings to which we weren’t invited, but at least we never knew about them. That’s not the case for most teenagers today. Rejection can be far more public now than ever before. Even before social media, however, everyone at some point hoped for a phone call from a certain special someone. For many of us the call never came.

For the times you’ve felt left out, for invitations and calls that didn’t come, for times of rejection far more hurtful than these, there’s one special invitation you have been given. There is a call you have received. It’s the call from Jesus saying, “Come to Me.” The One who spoke all creation into existence calls to you day and night:

Come to Me.

 How you respond to this one will affect eternity. Your response will also have an impact on how you live today. Jesus is sovereign over the affairs and circumstances of your life. He uses your challenges and struggles to call you into a closer and more intimate relationship with Himself. Through relationship He reveals His love to you. He heals you, comforts you, restores you. Yet often we allow our challenges and struggles to drive us away from Jesus. We feel rejected by Him. Nothing could be further from the truth.  The challenges are a call, an invitation – not a sign of rejection.

Jesus said, ‘Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]” (Matthew 11:28 AMP).  This is your daily invitation. Yesterday’s “coming” will not supply what we need for today. Yet, as with any invitation, we can decline. We can rsvp that we are unable to come. We can also set the invitation aside and forget to respond.

Consider today:

What keeps you from coming to Jesus?

What specific need can you bring to Him right now?

We invite you to pause now, even if it’s for a brief moment, and come to Jesus.

The Lord hears His people when they call to Him for help.

    “He rescues them from all their troubles.The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;  He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”

Psalm 34:17-18