Jesus illustrated this passage in Luke 14: 15-24 in the Parable of the Great Banquet. When the invited guests declined dinner, the master had his servants go out into the streets and bring in the poor, crippled, blind, and lame. But with room still left at the table, the master then told his servants to, ” Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in so my house will be full.” Those who will be gathered around that magnificent banquet table some day will be exalted, glorified, and redeemed of God.
Tag: church
Isaiah 28:16 ” So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘ See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.’ “
We, the Church, have been built on the solid, firm foundation of Jesus Christ. He is the rock we can confidently establish ourselves on…knowing He will never fail us. We are the “living” stones, built one stone at a time, into His Spiritual House…His Church.
II John verse 6 ” And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands.”
First Service of Church had just gotten over as I made my way down to the area where we usually sat. Turning into the pew I was confronted by this huge biker…complete with black leather, tattoos, piercings and long ponytail. My first startling impression was,” WOW! You must really feel out of place in this square box Church.” He smiled and held out his hand, “Hi!”. We shook hands and started chatting, and as my husband came up behind me he heard me invite this stranger home to share Sunday Dinner. Now I must tell you that it was wholly the Holy Spirit speaking through me, because in my flesh I would never invite a perfect stranger into my home…but what followed was a miracle. For the next few years this man would eat at our home every Thursday evening. Yes, he had lots of rough edges, and his past was quite checkered…from pimping, to prison time for murder, to riding with a well-known biker gang. But despite it all, the Lord had gotten ahold of him, and he was trying to make a new start. Every Thursday night Landy and I would encourage, mentor, and affirm what the Lord was doing in his life…We watered the seed and watched God grow it. Years later, he called us to come and see him installed as pastor of a biker church in town. It was truly a blessing to see what God had done in his life.
Revelation 2:4 “…You have forsaken your first love.”
If you’ve never seen the totally unbridled joy and excitement of a little child…then you’ve probably never attended a Birthday Party for a toddler! They practically wiggle with emotion, hardly able to contain it all. Remember when you first said “Yes” to the Lord…how intense your feelings were of love, devotion, and gratitude towards your Savior? Has that love grown cold? Today, say “Yes” once more, and rekindle that first love again.
II Thessalonians 3: 13 ” And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.”
Perseverance…to continue steadfastly, especially in something that is difficult or tedious. This verse exhorts us to not give in to trouble, or to become exasperated by difficulty. We are to persist…not losing heart and giving in to discouragement. As I’ve heard it said somewhere before…When you’re at the end of your rope…tie a big “God” shaped knot, and hang on!
Acts 17: 23 ” For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.”
As Paul walked around Athens, he saw thousands of idols and shrines decorating the landscape. He came upon an altar that was designed to appease some unknown god. So when he met with the learned men in the Areopagus, he informed them that he could not only put a name to that particular God, but tell them all about Him. The idolatrous worship they had been taking part in was due to their lack of revelation of this unknown god, and Paul was more than happy to declare to them very plainly everything about Him. The unknown god, was now the Known Lord and Savior.
Proverbs 15:6 ” The house of the righteous contains great treasure.”
I had the opportunity this morning to visit the Church of my childhood. While the people may have changed some, and they have enlarged the building…in many ways it hasn’t changed at all. The stained glass windows were the same, the pews and lighting unchanged…even the color of the sanctuary was as I remembered. In many ways it was very comforting to see my memories still there, still standing strong, still as I remembered.
Revelation 3: 15-16 ” I know you deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm- neither hot nor cold- I am about to spit you out of My mouth.”
Lukewarm Christianity is like a very limp handshake…it’s there, but not very effective. The Lord has some harsh words about lukewarm Christians…He’d rather have us totally cold towards the Gospel, than to ruin it with our mediocrity. Sometimes it just takes remembering our first love, to reignite that zeal and spiritual fervor we once had to serve Him.
Exodus 20 :3 ” You shall have no other gods before Me.”
This is the first of what is called the Ten Commandments, and the Lord starts out with the most important directive to mankind…do not worship anyone or anything but Me. Do not follow another god, do not bow down, serve or sacrifice to it. The Lord demands that we remain faithful to Him alone, because as in Jeremiah 1:16 it says, “I will pronounce My judgments on My people because of their wickedness in forsaking Me, in burning incense to other gods and in worshiping what their hands have made.” Our God is a jealous God, wanting our full devotion and love.
Philippians 2: 1-2 ” If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in Spirit and purpose.”
The Apostle Paul was asking the people to examine their own lives and personal relationship with the Lord… and then to turn that outwards towards others. He was exhorting the Church in Philippi to be joined together as one community of life and love, having the same mindset as they moved forward. Paul was using the example of Christ’s unconditional love, mercy, and compassion towards them as a catalyst to spur them on to imitate Christ within and outside the church walls. Even today, we could benefit from Paul’s appeal…all being like-minded in love and purpose as the Church moves forward into the future.
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