God’s Open Invitation

0:00Compell them to come in so that my house will be full. Luke chapter 14 verse 23. Welcome to today's encouragement from our daily bread. God's open invitation was written by Karen Pimpo and read by Tony Collier. Luke chapter 14 verses 15 through 24. When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God. 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.

1:00Another 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. God's open invitation, written by Karen Pimbo. Before my close friend's wedding, we meticulously set the table for 200 guests at the reception. With joyful anticipation,

2:01we spent hours folding napkins, aligning cutlery, straightening tablecloths and arranging flowers. After putting in all that work, we couldn't wait for guests to arrive and enjoy it. But when many seats remained empty, we were sorely disappointed. In Luke 14, Jesus shared a similar story with some Pharisees as they ate together. He described a man who lovingly planned a great banquet for many people, but few attended and gave flimsy excuses. The man was angry at their rejection. He extended his invitation to society's outcasts, the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame. When there were still room, his servants went even further abroad to compel others to come in. This parable reminds us that many of God's chosen people refused Jesus as their Messiah and rebuffed his invitation into his kingdom.

3:01To continue God's plan to save the world despite their rejection, he opened his invitation to the Gentiles, people not of Jewish heritage. All who received Jesus by faith are welcome to God's kingdom banquet, regardless of whether the world thinks they're worthy. The invitation is still open today. Let's pray. God, thank you for providing a place for us at your table, even when we didn't deserve to be there. Help us to share that invitation with others as you lead us to share about your love and mercy with them. Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. As you go about your day, reflect on these questions. What do you think the guest list to God's kingdom banquet looks like? How can we spread the good news?