The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 169
Luke 14:7-14 - So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; “and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. “But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Then He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. “But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. “And you will be blessed because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”
Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah
Sometimes the thoughts or methods of the LORD seem contrary to the event in which we see Him involved it. Notice: Jesus was invited to a dinner on the Sabbath day [Saturday]. This day was a day of worship and rest, other than this the day had no special purpose. There was no wedding and the guests were like those at our Sunday Agape meals. These meals, like the normal congregational meals of today, were normal for fellowship. At least this is my understanding here, someone else may say something else I suppose. The two subjects that the LORD’s mind seems to be focused on have eternal rewards, so Jesus is desiring to share an important message about the kingdom of God and not about the meal at this Sabbath event.
In the kingdom of God, one the first events will be the marriage supper of the LAMB, if you are a child of God by FAITH in the work of Messiah the Lamb, you will be at this meal. Rev 19:9 – Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” There is no indication that we will have at the wedding any identifying of rank or file. And I am sure that God will not leave us totally in the dark about this, but we are or will have a responsibility in conducting ourselves properly.
The other subject – inviting friends, neighbors, and relatives is our most normal way to enjoy life as we feel certain, that along the way we will be repaid by being invited to those events of friends, neighbors, and relatives, I think we all like to be repaid for efforts expended at our expense. IS THIS JESUS? No, no not at all. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Luke 14:13 “But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. “And you will be blessed because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”
Justification comes to everyone who is of FAITH (in God), not election (by self)!
Comments