What Is Not to Love About An Invitation to a Wedding with Jesus?
Good Morning Friends,
The hot ticket this week is with the President and the Pope. It is political of course and the Pope has already met with the President on the issue of global climate change. But this one is at the White House with 15,000 people. It is about religion a little and maybe the politics in Cuba but also the President’s agenda too. It is one of the traditional meetings for the people in those positions for the last 60 years or so. But against this backdrop there is a more important, though related, invitation that I want to meditate on this morning. It is an invitation to fall in love with Jesus. He did after all come to save you and me. What Is Not to Love About An Invitation to a Wedding with Jesus?
Scripture: I did not come to judge the world, but to save it”
John 12:47 (NIV)
Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give this person your place,’ and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” He said also to the one who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Luke 14:7-14 (NRSV)
Message: Thank God I am not in charge of the invitation list for the party at the White House. It is a political mine field of who to invite. Oh my!
The whole thing plays into the judgmental way the world sees the church today. But that is not why Jesus came.
Like the Jewish leaders who were the original audience for today’s parable, we can become infuriated if we do not like who has been invited.
There is, of course, a difference between a reason and an excuse and the Jewish leaders, of Jesus’ day, were making all kinds of excuses for not accepting Jesus as Messiah. Then we too today as Gentiles make excuses for not accepting Jesus as Lord even though we fully claim the benefits of Him being our Savior. Friends, there is a difference between Jesus and what people see as the Church. In today’s parable Jesus helps us to understand the reason behind His purpose. We are invited to a marriage of Jesus and His purpose and the purpose of the Church and all the
excuses not to join in are just lies. Friends, grace is God seeing exactly what and who we are and then forgiving us even though we do not deserve it. That alone should humble all those called into service. So, today’s parable and its meaning and the meeting in Washington are all like peeling an onion…layer upon layer. Here is where we must humbly submit to the love of God and if that brings us to tears that is ok. You see, ultimately today’s devotion is about a personal invitation. I do so hope that you have the courage to accept the invitation to the banquet. I do so hope we realize that the real agenda is one of love. Here we realize we must not manipulate others for our own glorification, but in humility be thankful that God is with us in a spirit of hospitality. It is always interesting to see how Jesus is honored.
Pray we realize that we are not and cannot be the rulers of our own destiny. Pray we realize that Jesus has seen the problem and brings us the solution. Pray we realize that all we have to do is surrender to Him. Pray we recognize the danger of pride and the value of humility. Pray our relationship with Jesus helps us to understand that Jesus is not what the world says He is. Pray we realize the dynamic of Jesus being rejected as the Messiah. Pray we never reject Him as our Savior. Pray we respond with humility believing that He is our Lord. Pray we show kindness to those who cannot return the favor. Pray we eat at the feast in the Kingdom of God. Pray we say yes to the invitation knowing the experience may well bring us to tears.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 