Our scripture for the Daily Devotional today is taken from Luke 14:15-23. Everyone wants to be loved and included. We all have the group that we want to be included in. We seek to be “cool by association.”
“ 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.”
16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
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18 “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.’
19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’
20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
21 “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.’
22 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’
23 “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. 24 I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”
Does the church welcome those not invited?
What does it mean to be poor? Not based on your bank account, but poor in spirit? Being poor in your bank account certainly helps you to see your shortcomings. When you are rich in earthly possessions, it is all too easy to become distracted, not acknowledging your needs.
How much do we miss God’s desire? The parable that Jesus gave here had people who were distracted by the concerns of life miss out. They had been cordially invited based on their standing in society. Although they were invited to the greatest party in the town for some time, they blew off the opportunity to oversee their physical blessings.
When you stand before God and society poor. You stand with all that you have. When you stand as a wealthy person, you struggle to be found beneath all the “things”.
God’s church needs to be ready. The church can not be weighed down by the less important earthly possessions. As the church, we need to be able to walk away from the things without even considering them. The plans that God has for us, His church, are so much greater than the earthly possessions.
Let’s Pray
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you, Jesus, that You have laid before us the greatest reward. There is nothing greater than one day in Your presence. Today I consciously acknowledge that I will not be controlled by Your earthly blessings. I keep my eye on Your prize and make myself available for Your glory!
In Jesus Name,
Amen