Thank YOU for the blessing. I got a lot accomplished today!
RSVPing the Lord!
Luke 14: 15-24
Petition:Lord, help me to put aside all excuses when invited to your banquet. 1. Valuing the Invitation Some of the happiest moments of our lives are spent around a banquet table. Milestones are celebrated there, friendships grow deeper, and relationships are renewed. Could this be why Jesus so frequently used this image to describe heaven? Lets spend a moment thinking about the joy of heaven of this never-ending feast. We cannot fathom what it will be like to see God and the inexhaustible beauty of his Triune majesty. And the company will be great! In the heavenly banquet it doesnt matter where you sit: Youll be next to a saint, and the conversation will be wonderful! 2. Legitimate RSVP? Going to a banquet takes some effort. You need to get a babysitter, pick out something to wear and possibly alter previous plans. If the invitation isnt valued, that effort wont be forthcoming; instead, you will make excuses. They may express a reality those oxen are ready to go! but they camouflage the real issue: That particular banquet doesnt seem worth it. This should make us reflect on the excuses we have about our spiritual lives. Do they mask a growing spiritual mediocrity? 3. The House Will Be Filled! The master of the house is upset because the people that should have been the first to accept his invitation turn him down. But everything is purchased, and the party is ready to go. Someone will have a chance to enjoy it. Here perhaps is another angle for reflection: We are that masters servants. He wants his house to be filled, and he needs us to make it happen. The servants are quick and agile, and they understand what the master wants: Theres still room! So too, lets ask the Lord to give us apostolic hearts that wont rest until the house is full. What a feast that will be! Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, I am looking forward to the day when we will be with you at the feast of the Kingdom of Heaven. Help me to understand that the joy and happiness of that banquet are worth the sacrifice of any worldly priority. So often I have excuses. Give me strength never to be pulled away from you. Resolution: I will accept Gods invitation and not put anything in front of my prayer life today. |