INVITATION
HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND TO GOD’S INVITATION?
BIBLE READING: Luke 14:1-24
KEY BIBLE VERSE: His master said, “Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. For none of those I invited first will get even the smallest taste of what I had prepared for them.” (Luke 14:23-24)
WE SHOULD ACCEPT GOD’S INVITATION WHILE IT IS OFFERED.
The man sitting at the table with Jesus saw the glory of God’s kingdom, but he did not yet understand how to get in. In Jesus’ story, many people turned down the invitation to the banquet because the timing was inconvenient. We too can resist or delay responding to God’s invitation, and our excuses may sound reasonable-work duties, family responsibilities, financial needs, or whatever they may be. Nevertheless, God’s invitation is the most important event in our life, no matter how inconveniently it may be timed. Are you making excuses to avoid responding to God’s call? Jesus reminds us that the time will come when God will pull his invitation and offer it to others-then it will be too late to get into the banquet.
WE SHOULD ACCEPT GOD’S INVITATION WHOLEHEARTEDLY.
It was customary to send two invitations to a party-the first to announce the event, the second to tell the guests that everything was ready. The guests in Jesus’ story insulted the host by making excuses when he issued the second invitation. In Israel’s history, God’s first invitation came from Moses and the prophets; the second came from his Son. The religious leaders accepted the first invitation. They believed that God had called them to be his people, but they insulted God by refusing to accept his Son. Thus, as the master in the story sent his servant into the streets to invite the needy to his banquet, so God sent his Son to the whole world of needy people to tell them that God’s kingdom had arrived and was ready for them.
WE SHOULD ACCEPT GOD’S INVITATION WITH JOY.
In this chapter we read Jesus’ words against seeking status, and in favor of hard work and even suffering. Let us not lose sight of the end result of all our humility and self-sacrifice-a joyous banquet with our Lord! God never asks us to suffer for the sake of suffering. He never asks us to give up something good unless he plans to replace it with something even better. Jesus is not calling us to join him in a labor camp but in a feast-the wedding supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:6-9), when God and his beloved church will be joined forever.