Party Time
"There are some people who fail to recognize there's a party going on. Some people know there's a party going on, but they don't believe they are invited. Others know a party is going on and they know they're invited, but they don't believe they deserve to go. Still others know they're invited, know they can attend and stay because they've been invited by the Host!" Carol Olson I thought of this during Pastor Tim’s sermon on RSVP. We are all invited to this party of the Kingdom!
Luke 14: 16-24, "Jesus replied: 'A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 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.’ Another said, ‘I have just bought five yokes of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ 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.’ ‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ 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. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”
God has prepared a banquet for all of us - a party in Heaven that will go on for eternity! God wants us all to be there! In the Bible story the servant goes out to invite the guests. As servants of God, we are to tell people about Jesus and invite them to the family of God. We can do all of that but whether or not someone accepts the invitation is up to them. The party will go on. Jesus invites but not commands.
We cannot follow Jesus and still live according to our own plans, desires and agenda. We cannot accept the party invitation and say we will come but not leave the world's party behind. Jesus sincerely desires for us to join Him. It is an urgent invitation because it includes life and death for us and it is only accessible through Him! Have you RSVP'd? It is party time!