I am going to use the Amplified Bible for what I have to say. First the parable which can be found in Matthew 22:
AND AGAIN Jesus spoke to them in parables (comparisons, stories used to illustrate and explain), saying, 2The kingdom of heaven is like a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son 3And sent his servants to summon those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they refused to come.
Liken this to going to church since the church is the bride of Jesus. We invite, invite, and invite...but sometimes people refuse to come.
4Again he sent other servants, saying, Tell those who are invited, Behold, I have prepared my banquet; my bullocks and my fat calves are killed, and everything is prepared; come to the wedding feast. 5But they were not concerned and paid no attention [they ignored and made light of the summons, treating it with contempt] and they went away--one to his farm, another to his business,
The world seems to busy, unconcerned, or downright angry at the fact that we think they should go to church....or rather that God is calling them to church.
6While the others seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and put them to death.
Death can take place in many forms - death of a friendship, spiritual death, persecution...things that make us, as the laborers, feel like what we are doing is just something that isn't worth it.
7[Hearing this] the king was infuriated; and he sent his soldiers and put those murderers to death and burned their city.
God knows how we are being treated - so take heart...because He will mete judgment as necessary,
8Then he said to his servants, The wedding [feast] is prepared, but those invited were not worthy.
When the world denies God - they are not worthy to be in His presence (even though He will gladly take them back if they repent.
9So go to the thoroughfares where they leave the city [where the main roads and those from the country end] and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.
Get out of your comfort zone and invite other people - as many as you can find. What's the worst they can do? Tell you no, right? Just because they tell you no doesn't mean that you have failed and that they are going to hell because of you. You did your part to lay the seed.
10And those servants went out on the crossroads and got together as many as they found, both bad and good, so [the room in which] the wedding feast [was held] was filled with guests.
You just never know who will end up coming to the church...some will be ready and hungry and others won't be. You can have a full church, but it won't mean that everyone there is spiritual. So don't be there as a "guest" to worry about the other guests. Be there to prepare for the wedding!
11But when the king came in to view the guests, he looked intently at a man there who had on no wedding garment.
Don't worry about who is there...God knows and He will take care of it. Be there and be ready with your wedding attire on (your holiness, your righteousness, and your sincere want to be with God.
12And he said, Friend, how did you come in here without putting on the [appropriate] wedding garment? And he was speechless ([a]muzzled, gagged). 13Then the king said to the attendants, Tie him hand and foot, and throw him into the darkness outside; there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. 14For many are called (invited and summoned), but few are chosen.
What is it for YOU? Were you only invited or called to church? Or did God choose you to hang around and become prepared?
If he called you to hang around and become prepared - get busy. What are somethings you can do?
Daisypath Annivers
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