JESUS SPEAKING
Then he said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’ Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, sad to his servant, ‘Go out quickly in to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’ And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper’” (Luke Chapter 14: 16 – 24.)
INSPIRED THOUGHTS
In this parable the man hosting the feast represents God. The servant sent out to invite others to join in fellowship is Jesus Christ; and the great supper represents God’s eternal kingdom and the body of Christ as a whole. Many who heard the Lord speak received the message, and with it salvation. Most however rejected the gospel; inventing any number of excuses that would enable them to continue pursuing worldly pleasures.
Some time ago I got involved in a weekly fellowship through a local church. The church was filled with people who appeared to be affluent and well educated. After a short time, it became clear that many were not fully committed to the group, let alone to God Himself. They enjoyed drinking and frequenting bars and clubs; many did not see fornication as an act of extreme evil either. Not surprisingly, every week we would hear a list of excuses as to why these individuals would not be able to attend the bible study. One girl often missed group because her favorite basketball team played on Thursday nights. Unfortunately many do not take their relationship with God seriously (or they deny it entirely.) Some will come up with any excuse to avoid fellowship, bible reading, and service work.
Today, the message is still being preached. God continues to invite the masses to join Him in fellowship. Those who heed the call integrate themselves into the body of Christ and begin to serve and love others. Get involved at your local church and abandon the excuses and worldly pleasures that separate you from your fellows. Attend a bible study, and get to know your true brothers and sisters. Build friendships with other believers and read the bible. If you obey the Lord’s commands and love unconditionally, then you will have entered in to God’s kingdom, and you will live forever in His presence.
“Lord Heavenly Father, we desire to know You and to love You. If we have not fully accepted your message then may we eagerly receive it today. May we enter Your eternal kingdom and may we hunger for genuine fellowship with other believers. Eliminate our excuses that we might serve our brothers and sisters in love. We love You Father, we praise You and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you.
Jesus Speaks 