Jesus was reading the minds of those...
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Jesus was reading the minds of those Pharisees. They were wondering: What does this lowly carpenter's son know? Why should we listen to him? It takes a measure of God's Spirit to recognize when God is speaking to us. He can speak in many guises. He does not always come in the form of a Ph.D. It makes me wonder whether Ph.D.s can be saved. They may be wondering whether they should even listen to non-Ph.D.s.
The Bible tells us that we are judged according to our enlightenment. This can mean that pastors will receive even closer scrutiny before the Lord. If we sin, we should know better! Those who sit in the pews every Sunday may be judged more harshly than the bums who roam the streets committing crimes. We may be judged more harshly if we cheat on our income taxes or in our business dealings (to make a profit for our stockholders, of course).
Jesus' invitation is referring to his kingdom on earth and heaven. We get our invitation to his banquet now while we are here on earth. We get the invitation through the Bible and through the church and confirmation and through other Christians whom God has sent to invite us to join at the Lord's table.
So many of us feel we have more important things to do. "Maybe some day," we think, "we might make time for this religion thing, but right now we are having fun doing what we want to do, when we want to do it -- even if the menu sounds good! Let it wait!" This passage tells us that there is a limit to God's patience. We have had a first chance to come to him, but if we decline -- at least for the present -- God will pass on to invite others until his halls are full. These people can be both good and bad and not all wonderful people like us.
When we do come, our only garment should be the one Christ gave us when he forgave all our sins on the cross. We can't make our own garment and we can't come to the feast without the garment he gave us.
Who are the servants who come to invite us, but the pastors he has called to serve him. Our job is to tell everyone about the beautiful banquet waiting for us. Our job is to tell others that God wants his hall to be filled even if he has to drag in all the bums and criminals. Just as long as they come wearing the free gift of that white robe.
Make sure you have your robe and are wearing it now -- just in case you get called sooner than you think.
The Bible tells us that we are judged according to our enlightenment. This can mean that pastors will receive even closer scrutiny before the Lord. If we sin, we should know better! Those who sit in the pews every Sunday may be judged more harshly than the bums who roam the streets committing crimes. We may be judged more harshly if we cheat on our income taxes or in our business dealings (to make a profit for our stockholders, of course).
Jesus' invitation is referring to his kingdom on earth and heaven. We get our invitation to his banquet now while we are here on earth. We get the invitation through the Bible and through the church and confirmation and through other Christians whom God has sent to invite us to join at the Lord's table.
So many of us feel we have more important things to do. "Maybe some day," we think, "we might make time for this religion thing, but right now we are having fun doing what we want to do, when we want to do it -- even if the menu sounds good! Let it wait!" This passage tells us that there is a limit to God's patience. We have had a first chance to come to him, but if we decline -- at least for the present -- God will pass on to invite others until his halls are full. These people can be both good and bad and not all wonderful people like us.
When we do come, our only garment should be the one Christ gave us when he forgave all our sins on the cross. We can't make our own garment and we can't come to the feast without the garment he gave us.
Who are the servants who come to invite us, but the pastors he has called to serve him. Our job is to tell everyone about the beautiful banquet waiting for us. Our job is to tell others that God wants his hall to be filled even if he has to drag in all the bums and criminals. Just as long as they come wearing the free gift of that white robe.
Make sure you have your robe and are wearing it now -- just in case you get called sooner than you think.
