Luke 14-A “That My House May Be Filled”

S = Luke 14:17-18a, 21 “And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ But they all alike began to make excuses… So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’”

 

O = The man who gives the banquet is more than a man…v. 24 tells us the banquet in question is Christ’s. But what I notice is that after a selection of culturally inappropriate and lame excuses in fact be carefully couched insults, the man gets angry. I am reminded through this that God is not a dispassionate personality! Yet what is it the master/God does in his anger? He extended radical grace to others who had not been a part of the original invitation! No attempt to sabotage the Messianic banquet will succeed.

 

A = I recognize that I am one of those found in the streets and lanes or the highways and hedges. I could never have dreamed to have been invited to the wedding supper of God’s Son…but now I am! If God’s anger released greater grace (Romans 5:10) then what must his delight in us produce? This week when I am invited to spend time with God in his Word and in prayer, and to table fellowship with him through his gathered people, let me not make lame excuses but come with eager anticipation!

 

P = O Lord, may I come quickly at your call and be a delight to you this week rather than insultingly self-centered and aloof. May I also be like the servant in the parable…diligent to seek out the lost so that your house may be filled. Amen.