Invited

Today, our family read about the following teaching of Jesus while remembering Advent. I love this teaching as it reveals the character of God. The following is Matthew 22 1Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. 4“Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ 5“But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. 6The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. 7The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8“Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come.9Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ 10So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless. 13“Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14“For many are invited, but few are chosen.”  God has lovingly prepared a banquet to share and celebrate. He has sent out, and is sending out invitations- rejecting His invitation hurts Him and even enrages Him. Might sound cruel, but as a Dad- if my son laughed, mocked or rejected my life's work gift and invitation for him to share in that special gift- I could relate to being deeply hurt to the point of being angered by my son's ungrateful rejection of my love.  But God (the King) furthers His invitation to the corners of the streets- showing no favor, yet desiring to bring more people in to the party. Notice that Jesus goes so far to include "the good and bad" in his parable! (To me, I love that) Widespread Love Yet being invited and coming to the party includes arriving prepared- The invitation is to a wedding party, and the King wants you to come prepared. Maybe that was mentioned in the invitation? God has sent you and I an invitation to join Him not only for a banquet party called Heaven, but on Mission here on earth. Jesus has brought that invitation, and it includes how to come prepared and how to live now- reflecting His image.  So- this Christmas Season, I want you to know that you're invited-