You Are Invited

Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.'” (Luke 14:16-24 NIV)

If we apply this story to our life, it might be applicable to today. Who are the invited guests? Is it possible it is us? What hinders our response to God’s invitation? Is it our work, our family, our stuff, our logic that distracts us? God is pretty clear he wants his house to be full. And it will be. Who are you in this story? Hopefully, we will let go of what holds us here and respond to God’s call to come.

–Elaine Kapetanakis