Thursday, July 28, 2011

Daily Gospel Devotional: July 28

Luke 14:15-24…

The guest of honor…

Jesus was still dining in the home of the Pharisee when someone spoke up about how blessed it will be to dine in the kingdom of God. The man was speaking as if he knew he would be there. Jesus used this moment to tell a story that was directed to the pride of the guests.

In the story, the guests who were invited to a great feast started making excuses why they couldn’t come. The first man’s excuse is a lie. In those days, no one bought a field without examining it thoroughly. The second man’s excuse is an insult. It was like saying you can’t make it to the big event that was planned weeks ago because you just bought a ticket for a movie that night. The third man’s excuse is just arrogant. The man had already accepted an invitation, and the feast would not have been scheduled on the same day as the wedding. The only real reason the people didn’t want to come to the feast was because they weren’t hungry in humility.

You see, in the story God is the host, the feast is the kingdom of God, the invited guests were the Jewish leaders, and the poor and crippled and blind and lame were the Gentiles. Jesus was saying, “You proud people won’t repent of your evil ways. You are continually trying to excuse yourself with reasons why I am not the Messiah. You refuse my invitations to the kingdom and reject me any way you can. So I will gather up the hurting, and discard you, the haughty. You who were first invited but who make excuses are not going to be eating with me.”

Let the proud of this world have their cake and eat it too. You don’t want it. Remember, they don’t serve devil’s food in heaven.

7 comments:

Even So... said...

Hey Mrs. Even So, remember this from a couple of days ago...?

Daily Gospel Devotional: July 26

last sentence of post...

Before accusing someone, you might want to think about this, because the supposed injustice might cause the invisible ink of your heart to become manifest.

puts it in perspective, huh?

livin it baby...

(sorry folks, I wanted to remind my wife about something her and I witnessed yesterday)

funny how we get tested almost immediately

Even So... said...

The last line of today's post got me thinking about it

Let the proud of this world have their cake and eat it too. You don’t want it. Remember, they don’t serve devil’s food in heaven.

MrsEvenSo... said...

For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 1 Pet 2:19-21

For the Glory of God!

Anonymous said...

This just keeps getting better and better.
P.

Ty said...

I love today's reading. It felt like i really knew what it was about. I understood it well.

Even So... said...

Perfectly applicable comment, honey!

Thanks Paul!

Glad to hear that, Ty!

Anonymous said...

The only real reason the people didn’t want to come to the feast was because they weren’t hungry in humility.

dude.