Daily Worship

Travelling the Way . . . Towards Jerusalem

Jock Stein February 19, 2016 0 0

Luke 14.15-24

The parable of the great banquet

15 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.”

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 have 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.”’

Think

In God’s kingdom there is always room, but not for those who trample on his invitation.

Pray

God, how wonderfully you have arranged all things, from Genesis to Revelation, from first hint to final explanation, from the dawn of creation to the light of full day. Thank you for your providential care of our lives, for opening our eyes to gospel, for opening our hearts to grace, for opening our lives to your Spirit. Thank you for the water of life and the wine of the kingdom. Thank you for Jesus.

Help me this day to follow him without excuse, without reluctance, without finishing my own business first. Help me to share the purifying anger of God when I see folk dodging kingdom matters and pursuing their own agendas. Help me to share the envigorating grace of God when I see people whom I could lead towards God’s table. Help me to share the lasting purpose of God who has resolved that his house will be full, with his Son as guest of honour. Amen.