Jesus replied with this parable: “A man invited many to join him in a great feast. When the day for the feast arrived, the host instructed his servant to notify all the invited guests and tell them, ‘Come, for everything is now ready for you!’ But one by one they all made excuses. One said, ‘I can’t come. I just bought some property and I have to go and look it over.’ Another said, ‘Please accept my regrets, for I just purchased five teams of oxen and I need to make sure they can pull the plow.’ Another one said, ‘I can’t come because I just got married.’ “The servant reported back to the host and told him of all their excuses. The master became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go at once throughout the city and invite anyone you find—the poor, the blind, the disabled, the hurting, and the lonely. Invite them to my banquet.’ “When the servant returned to his master, he said, ‘Sir, I have done what you asked, but there’s still room for more.’ “So the master told him, ‘All right. Go out again, and this time bring them all back with you. Persuade the beggars on the streets, the outcasts, even the homeless. Insist that they come in and enjoy the feast so that my house will be full.’ “I say to you all, no one who receives an invitation to feast with me and makes excuses will ever enjoy my banquet.”

Luke‬ ‭14‬:‭16‬-‭24‬ ‭TPT

This parable has been on my mind as I’ve been processing the trajectory of my posts. This passage makes me think about the nation God chose to be the people of His promises. The Old Testament is rife with stories of faithfulness, but also debauchery and desertion.

Jesus was born during a time when the ruling nation did not hold a belief in the One True God, and the Pharisees and Sadducees were more like political elitists than the shepherds they were meant to be.

The ones that had the invitation had become too entrenched in their own goings-on that they neglected the time of fellowship with their Lord. They rejected their own Messiah, and look what happened.

The next question is, “Are they down for the count? Are they out of this for good?” And the answer is a clear-cut No. Ironically when they walked out, they left the door open and the outsiders walked in. But the next thing you know, the Jews were starting to wonder if perhaps they had walked out on a good thing. Now, if their leaving triggered this worldwide coming of non-Jewish outsiders to God’s kingdom, just imagine the effect of their coming back! What a homecoming!

Romans‬ ‭11‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭MSG

This is the open door of the church. Jesus has extended the invitation to anyone who will come. He is the Way, He is the Narrow Gate, and He is the Invitation that gives us entry into God’s house, allowing us to partake of His bountiful feast.

We were the “beggars on the streets, the outcasts, even the homeless.” But now we have found our home.

Will you accept His invitation? Or will you find life’s many excuses to turn Him down?

Grace & Peace,

Sandy

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