Come to the Banquet
Then he sent some more servants and said, 'Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.' - Matthew 22:4
Jesus again taught His disciples in parables. He told them the story of a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. This was no ordinary banquet – there would be exotic foods, lots of drink and entertainment. No expense would be spared to make this the “part of the year.” The guests would be pampered – treated like royalty.
The time came for the feast and the king sent out the word, “Dinner’s ready – come on in.” But the unthinkable happened. The guests refused to show up. They all had things to do – places to go – work to be done. They couldn’t be bothered coming to the King’s party.
What to do? The King sent his servants out to invite all they could find – the hall was filled. That is awesome.
The parable applies to us today. God is the King. The wedding banquet is Heaven. The feast prepared for us in beyond our wildest imagination!
But we don’t have to wait until we are in Heaven to experience the great gifts from our Heavenly King. Each and every day He showers us with abundance. We have clothing and food and drink and friends and family and books and fun and the list is very long. He provides for our needs. He also gives us a great share of our desires. I don’t need a computer – but I have one. I don’t need a CD player – but I have one. I don’t need a color TV set connected to a DVD player connected to a VHS player connected to a satellite dish – but I have one. God desires to give us awesome gifts.
The greatest gift He has given us on forgiveness of sins through His Son Jesus Christ. My sins condemn me. His suffering saves me. My sins separate me from God. His cross connects me to God. All this not because I earned it – worked for it – did something special – I have it because the Heavenly King loves me!
Prayer: Thank you Lord for all of Your great gifts! Amen.
Jesus again taught His disciples in parables. He told them the story of a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. This was no ordinary banquet – there would be exotic foods, lots of drink and entertainment. No expense would be spared to make this the “part of the year.” The guests would be pampered – treated like royalty.
The time came for the feast and the king sent out the word, “Dinner’s ready – come on in.” But the unthinkable happened. The guests refused to show up. They all had things to do – places to go – work to be done. They couldn’t be bothered coming to the King’s party.
What to do? The King sent his servants out to invite all they could find – the hall was filled. That is awesome.
The parable applies to us today. God is the King. The wedding banquet is Heaven. The feast prepared for us in beyond our wildest imagination!
But we don’t have to wait until we are in Heaven to experience the great gifts from our Heavenly King. Each and every day He showers us with abundance. We have clothing and food and drink and friends and family and books and fun and the list is very long. He provides for our needs. He also gives us a great share of our desires. I don’t need a computer – but I have one. I don’t need a CD player – but I have one. I don’t need a color TV set connected to a DVD player connected to a VHS player connected to a satellite dish – but I have one. God desires to give us awesome gifts.
The greatest gift He has given us on forgiveness of sins through His Son Jesus Christ. My sins condemn me. His suffering saves me. My sins separate me from God. His cross connects me to God. All this not because I earned it – worked for it – did something special – I have it because the Heavenly King loves me!
Prayer: Thank you Lord for all of Your great gifts! Amen.