COME, HE WILL WELCOME YOU

 
AUGUST 6

COME, HE WILL WELCOME YOU.
 
"For the Son of Man is come to seek and
  to save that which was lost!"          Luke 19:10
 
Never did a physician rejoice over a patient
   he had restored to health,
     as Jesus rejoices over the sinner who
     flies for refuge to his arms.
 
Never did a shepherd realize such pleasure when
   he had found his long-lost sheep,
    as Jesus realizes when the transgressor accepts his invitation.
 
Never did a father rejoice over his poor prodigal son
  who had returned to his arms and his home,
    as Jesus rejoices over the soul that seeks salvation in his name.
 
Reader, Jesus will joyfully welcome you.
  He longs to see you come to him.
  He will receive you to the glory of God.
 
You cannot please him better than by coming to him.
You cannot grieve him more than by refusing his loving invitation.
 
He welcomed guilty Mary Magdalene, 

   out of whom he had driven seven demons!
 
He welcomed persecuting Saul of Tarsus!
 
He has welcomed thousands of the most depraved of mankind, 

    and he will welcome you.
 
Only believe his word, come at his call, and

   he will rejoice to fold you in the arms of his love.
 
Can you doubt? 

   That were to render him a liar,

      to treat him as not worthy of credit.
 
Can you delay? 

   That were to try his patience, and 

       postpone your own happiness.
 
Can you refuse? 

   That were to secure your certain and 

        everlasting damnation.
 
From the garden where he suffered,
from the cross where he died, and
from the throne where he reigns in glory,
he cries, "Come, and welcome!"
 
By his printed word,
by his preached gospel, and
by his Spirit's voice within —
he calls you, saying,
"Come, and welcome!
 
Welcome to my blood, to trust in it.
Welcome to my righteousness, to wear it.
Welcome to my promise, to claim it.
Welcome to Heaven, to enter and eternally enjoy it."
Welcome, thrice welcome to Jesus!
 
"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me:
  and him that cometh to me
      I WILL IN NO WISE CAST OUT." 
                                             John 6:37