April 17, 2010

April 17 Luke 14:1-24
If you were given an invitation to attend a banquet with the President of the United States, and it was at a time at which you could attend and cost you nothing, would you go? If there were not assigned seating but people were seated on a first-come-first-served basis, where would you sit? If the truth were known, I think most of us would go, even if you didn't like the President's politics. After all, he is the President of the U.S.A. Also, most of us would do our best to be seated nearest the President as possible.
Someone infinitely greater than the President of the U,S.A. is giving a banquet, and all are invited. God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth and His Son Jesus, the Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords have issued and invitation to come and dine with them. It is an invitation that works on a couple of levels. The first and obvious level in this parable is at the end of time we are invited to enter into eternal fellowship with Him. It is at a time at which are able to attend, and in one sense it will cost you nothing. Is it something most are willing to do? Unfortunately many are so focused upon the things of this world that they fail to see the tremendous privilege to which they have been invited. Consequently, they choose things that pale in comparison to the privilege of coming to the banquet. Those things include, marriage, buying real estate, getting your business secure etc. One day they will wake up and find that they chose activities that have come to an end rather than entering into an eternal relationship with their Creator. Theirs will be eternal loss.
This invitation works on another level as well. Jesus bids us daily, indeed moment by moment to enter into a continual feast with Him, a relationship where we constantly are aware and act upon His presence. Unfortunately many are so focused upon the things of this world that we fail to see the tremendous privilege to which we have been invited. Consequently, we choose things that pale in comparison to the privilege of coming to the banquet. Those things include, marriage, buying real estate, getting our employment or retirement secure etc. One day we will wake up to find that we have wasted so much time in a pursuit that was cheap in comparison to what we could have had with Him. Like the final banquet in one sense this banquet is free. In another sense (as we will see tomorrow), it will cost you everything. The question is, "What is His glory worth to us?" Is it worth to us the sacrifice required to see it and to practice it on a daily, yes moment by moment basis? Lord, help us to see your glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john