AN OPEN INVITATION!

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28. (NKJV).

“Here you are, sir.” The lady at the grocery checkout handed Grandfather his receipt. “Have a good day.”

“Thank you, Melissa. And remember, you have an open invitation.”

“What’s an open invitation, Grandfather?”

“Hmm. Johnny has an open invitation at our house.”

“Oh. Because he’s always welcome—what's wrong with that guy? He looks sad.” A young man sat on the steps out of the way of traffic.

“You okay, son?” 

The young man mumbled a response. 

“Sorry, couldn’t hear you.”

“I’m fine,” he spit out, lips curled.

“Hey. Don’t talk that way to my Grandfather.” Before the guy could respond, Grandfather handed Timmy his bag of groceries, sat by the young man. 

“Grandfather?” He winked, patted the place next to him. Timmy plopped down. 

“What ya think you’re doing, old man? I don’t need your help.”

“I want to hear your story. You do have one, don’t you?” The young man’s chin rested on his chest.

“Why should ya care? Nobody else does.”

Timmy's brow furrowed. Why's Grandfather talking with this guy?

“I care because Someone cares for me.”

 Tears welled. The young man swiped them. 

“Are you hungry? Okay. Come with us. I can fill your belly and I know Someone who can fill your heart.”

That evening Timmy said, “Grandfather? Why did you sit by Eric? How'd you know he'd come with us? How…?”  

He held up his hand. “I offered him a choice, son—an invitation. He knows we care and was introduced to the Lord Jesus who loves and cares for him. Now we pray he'll seek the Lord." He shrugged. "My responsibility is to share His kindness—to share the invitation. Believe me, the Lord Jesus can save His lambs.” 

“Exciting, isn't it? To know we can share the invitation?” 

“Absolutely, son.” He wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

“You know what?”

“What’s that?” 

“You shared the invitation with me. I get to share it with others—it really is an open invitation, right?” 

“Right you are son. An open invitation, indeed.” 

Kingdom Thinking. I was once that person who sat on the steps, desperate, hungry for the truth. Then the Lord Jesus came, sat, offered rest. He replaced my ill-fitting yoke of sin, bitterness, selfishness, and anger, with his shining yoke of love. He promises His yoke is easy; His burden is light. Won’t you come?  It's an open invitation.