God’s Invitation Deserves a Response

2 Kings 18, 2 Chron 29-31, Ps 48 When you hear the word consecration, what comes to mind? It means to dedicate oneself to the work of the Lord, and that is what Hezekiah chose to do. As a result of this obedience to God, he was a righteous king, and the nation was also blessed. All the years Hezekiah was king, the nation was at peace.

One of the acts of Hezekiah was to reinstitute the Passover and invite all of the nation to attend.
He sent messengers with invitations as far north as Zebulun. But much like the people in Jesus’ parable in Luke 14:15-24, the people responded, ” Sorry, but I have work to do that cannot wait, ” followed by, “Please excuse me.” In addition, many mocked and ridiculed the messengers. Those who chose to come were blessed beyond measure, and those who scoffed missed that richest time of blessing.

God is pleased when we consecrate ourselves to His way and His work, and the contrast is also true. Will you consecrate yourself to the Lord and His work? Will you accept His invitation?

What is your R.S.V.P.?

Jesus has an invite for you

2Chron 30 “An Invite that is Rejected.”

With great energy, Hezekiah continued his reforms for his nation. He wisely sought counsel from his officials and sought to protect Jerusalem from invaders while trusting in God to be his guide. He sought to reunite the kingdom that had been divided through the observance of the Passover and sent messengers with invitations as far north as Zebulun. But much like the people in Jesus’ parable in Luke 14, the people responded, Sorry, but I have work to do that cannot wait, etc. followed by “Please excuse me.” In addition, many mocked and ridiculed the messengers. 

In the parable Jesus taught, the invited had one main reason; they were “just.too.busy” to come. Their priorities were self first and God last; they were stubborn. How like the world today when the invitation is given to accept Messiah. They offer these excuses: that is ok for you but not for me or another time, or I am doing just fine and I don’t need God; or lastly, I am “just.too.busy.”

Those that chose to come to the Passover were blessed and rejoiced in the celebration. So it was in the parable; those that came filled the Master’s house to overflowing with rejoicing!

God’s invitation is for all. How will you respond? Are you ‘just.too.busy.’ or will you answer, Yes, Lord! 

An Invitation…Will You Accept?

ImageThe Parade is over and Jesus is in the Temple once again and is teaching, as he has so often, about the kingdom of heaven through parables. We remember that Jesus told the disciples that he would be using that approach: “I speak to them in parables: Although they see they do not see, and although they hear they do not hear nor do they understand” thus fulfilling Isaiah’s 6:9-10 prophecy. Although this was Jesus’ method the Pharisees and chief priests knew not only was he directing his teaching at them but also they understood the implications of his teaching. That is why they wanted to arrest him as we found out in chapter 21.

Jesus spoke to them again in lest any should say they never understood. He has just told them that they were rejecting Him as the Chosen One and now He will emphasize it in greater detail through an illustration that they could all relate to which is a method that we must learn to utilize as well. Start with a common every day thought and use it as a spring board to the truth you want the audience to grasp. In this parable the listeners would have grasped the importance of the wedding banquet in their first century culture, but more importantly they would have been astounded that the king would invite any to his son’s banquet! This was thus not just any banquet–it was for his son! In that culture one received an invite and then when the banquet was ready the ‘king’ would send for them. Try to picture you receiving an invite to a head of state’s home for dinner. You receive it in advance and when the time is ready your limo arrives to pick you up. But, notice the responses of the invitees. They would NOT come! They were indifferent and turned their back even when he sent a second gracious summons! No wonder the king was furious! He had spared no expense nor the preparation.

What are we to learn? The king is God and He has a banquet prepared for Jesus, His Beloved Son. He has spared no expense; he sent his only son so that no one would perish but have eternal life. All have been invited to come and celebrate! Yet there were some then and some today who say no or some who are just too busy. In Matt 8 we read that many said they would go but they had many excuses as to why “not now.”  When he sent out the disciples he gave them orders to shake the dust off their shoes if the message they brought was ignored or rejected. We meet these same people today in the marketplace; in our workplace and even in our families. They are more concerned about their now than their eternal destiny. Felix said the same thing to Paul in Acts 24.

What about the intruder in the banquet? Who is he? And why is he even there? He is there because the invitation was to both good and bad but even with that there are rules of decorum to be followed and he chose to not do that. How often have we heard that the “I am the Way, The Truth, The Life” just doesn’t cut it for me? I will come to Jesus in my way. Note the consequence! Bound and sent packing to outer darkness. There will be some that will face this in the day of judgment.

Beloved, God has a plan and it includes you. He has issued His invitation and He has sent this message to you. What will you do with it? Will you come and celebrate or are you just too busy to do it now? Remember the intruder when this crosses your mind.

ImageMatthew chapter 22

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