“Again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, “Tell those who are invited, ‘See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.’” But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, “The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.” And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
“’But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, “Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?” And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen.'” Matthew 22:1-14
Jesus’s parable invited RSVPs to faith, understanding, and surrender. When the king issued summonses for his wedding feast, a celebration of joy-filled covenant commitment, responses betrayed the human condition. Though lavish inclusion was offered, individuals turned it down for busyness, industry, and ambition. Some hard-hearteds rejected with such vehement hatred they extinguished the well-meaning messengers. Squelching the offerer obliterated their responsibility, or so they thought. But turning down the king’s invitation brought eternal regret none could reverse, closing the door to forever communion.
There are a variety of times we shrug off God’s invitations. Daily He beckons us come near to commune with Him, and we find more pressing things to fill our time and attention. In our churches, He presents opportunities to serve Him by serving others, yet we prefer to manage our margins and keep measured our contributions. At work and in our communities, He bids us get involved in His kingdom work, yet we eschew the commitment required. He offers to come alongside, inspire, enable, and refine, but we choose to guard tightly-held agendas and comfort. Even at home, where He invites us to intimacy and edification, we can procrastinate, or let down our guard, or resist substance and fellowship for personal ease, not valuing the feast He’s prepared.
How do I respond to divine invitations? They come as a quickening of the Spirit, a conviction, a pull at the heart, or an obvious opportunity. They might present as an interruption, or a brash command breaking into our quiet status-quo. Can we answer with no regrets?
Where are we resisting God’s voice, doing anything to eliminate accountability? What will we change, eliminate, or do in order to listen more keenly and obey more quickly?
Father, help me accept Your invitations with ready response so Your work is furthered and Your name is honored.
As the rain and snow 