Luke and the Lost

This is a month of weddings for us! Four, on four separate weekends this month. It has been interesting to watch people who we know, those we know little and those we do not know at all come into these celebrations. Some come with attitudes of arrogance, expecting to treated well because of the gift of their presence at the event. Some come in loudly, wanting the attention of the bride and groom so badly to fulfill their own need of being noticed. Some come in quietly, regretting they came because of seeing others there who have hurt them in the past from broken marriages. Some just come for the party and the drink that will make them forget everything and act stupid. And some come to see two people who love each other be blessed in the sacred ceremony of marriage. Yes, it doesn’t take much observation to know “who’s who”.

Jesus was at a dinner of a rich and prestigious Pharisee. In Luke 14, he says, “all the guests had their eyes on him, watching his every move.” Jesus, as He does often, turns the tables on the host and guests by telling them stories that revealed the Truth of their attitudes and actions. Jesus does not hold anything back because of His love for God’s people who need to know what God wants and expects from all of us who say we love Him. He also reminds us that ALL should be invited to the table.

Luke 14, The Message
Invite the Misfits
7-9 He went on to tell a story to the guests around the table. Noticing how each had tried to elbow into the place of honor, he said, “When someone invites you to dinner, don’t take the place of honor. Somebody more important than you might have been invited by the host. Then he’ll come and call out in front of everybody, ‘You’re in the wrong place. The place of honor belongs to this man.’ Red-faced, you’ll have to make your way to the very last table, the only place left.

10-11 “When you’re invited to dinner, go and sit at the last place. Then when the host comes he may very well say, ‘Friend, come up to the front.’ That will give the dinner guests something to talk about! What I’m saying is, If you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face. But if you’re content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself.”

12-14 Then he turned to the host. “The next time you put on a dinner, don’t just invite your friends and family and rich neighbors, the kind of people who will return the favor. Invite some people who never get invited out, the misfits from the wrong side of the tracks. You’ll be—and experience—a blessing. They won’t be able to return the favor, but the favor will be returned—oh, how it will be returned!—at the resurrection of God’s people.”

The Story of the Dinner Party
15 That triggered a response from one of the guests: “How fortunate the one who gets to eat dinner in God’s kingdom!”

16-17 Jesus followed up. “Yes. For there was once a man who threw a great dinner party and invited many. When it was time for dinner, he sent out his servant to the invited guests, saying, ‘Come on in; the food’s on the table.’

18 “Then they all began to beg off, one after another making excuses. The first said, ‘I bought a piece of property and need to look it over. Send my regrets.’

19 “Another said, ‘I just bought five teams of oxen, and I really need to check them out. Send my regrets.’

20 “And yet another said, ‘I just got married and need to get home to my wife.’

21 “The servant went back and told the master what had happened. He was outraged and told the servant, ‘Quickly, get out into the city streets and alleys. Collect all who look like they need a square meal, all the misfits and homeless and wretched you can lay your hands on, and bring them here.’

22 “The servant reported back, ‘Master, I did what you commanded—and there’s still room.’

23-24 “The master said, ‘Then go to the country roads. Whoever you find, drag them in. I want my house full! Let me tell you, not one of those originally invited is going to get so much as a bite at my dinner party.’”

Yes, there will always be ONE more to invite to the table of God’s Kingdom. Who is that one in our lives? This is a holy pause to reflect and think about who has not been invited to the Truth we know and cherish for ourselves and our family and close friends? Who needs to be invited?

Dear Heavenly Father, You speak Truth through Your Words that convict us with repentance and challenge us to action that follow what we say we believe. Thank you for being the person of Truth for every situation we will encounter here on earth. Thank you, for salvation, protection, provision and a multitude of blessings. Continue to be with us still…In Jesus Name, Amen. I believe.