Daily Reading: 8-31-16
Luke 14:15-24 Living Bible (TLB)
Like an excellent Host, God has extended two invitations for people to enter the Kingdom. One invitation was through Moses and the prophets; this was really to announce an upcoming event. Many religious people received this invitation. The second invitation was when God sent his Son into the world to announce the guests should now come because everything is ready for relationship. This second invitation has been met with all kinds of excuses through the years.
Our present culture may use different excuses, but they are still excuses for not attending and feasting on spiritual provision that is found in a relationship with Christ. By making excuses, people find themselves in spiritual starvation. How sad when the feast is ready and waiting.
While Jesus was having dinner with friends and family, he was sharing with them about the invitation to enter the Kingdom. A man listening to Jesus and witnessing his glory still did not understand how one could enter the Kingdom. So Jesus told the following parable.
Luke 14:15-24
15 Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a privilege it would be to get into the Kingdom of God!”
16 Jesus replied with this illustration: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. 17 When all was ready, he sent his servant around to notify the guests that it was time for them to arrive. 18 But they all began making excuses. One said he had just bought a field and wanted to inspect it, and asked to be excused. 19 Another said he had just bought five pair of oxen and wanted to try them out. 20 Another had just been married and for that reason couldn’t come.
21 “The servant returned and reported to his master what they had said. His master was angry and told him to go quickly into the streets and alleys of the city and to invite the beggars, crippled, lame, and blind. 22 But even then, there was still room.
23 “‘Well, then,’ said his master, ‘go out into the country lanes and out behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. 24 For none of those I invited first will get even the smallest taste of what I had prepared for them.’”
God’s invitation for relationship through Christ is the most important invitation we will ever receive in our lifetime; stop making excuses. Enter in and enjoy Kingdom Living, because God is Good!
Prayer: Father, thank you for Jesus and for inviting me to the feast; the abundance and provision that dwells in your Kingdom. I want to abide in your Kingdom and enjoy life with you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.