Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless. Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
Matthew 22:1-14
Truth about God
Daily Devotion – October 30, 2017
Devotion based on Matthew 22:1-14
See series: Devotions
Have you ever said, “I think God is like…” Then you went on to describe your own version of God. We might be tempted to say, “I know the Bible says that I shouldn’t have sex before marriage, but I think God would want me to be happy.” Or “I know my friend doesn’t believe in Jesus, but I don’t think God would ever really send anyone to hell.” It can be tempting to invent our own truth about God. But we can’t invent God. God must tell us the truth about himself.
Jesus wants us to know the truth about God. So he tells us a story. He says that God is like a king who throws a wedding banquet. The party was going to be incredible! The best of meats and the finest of wines. But those he invited made excuses and didn’t want to come.
Stop. Do you see what Jesus is showing you about what God is really like? Your heavenly Father is not trying to rob you of your fun. He is a generous king who is inviting everyone to come to his eternal celebration.
Jesus went on to say that the king sent out more messengers and compelled as many people as he could to come to the feast. You see, God wants everyone in heaven! When the banquet finally arrived, a man entered who was not wearing wedding clothes. He was asked about his attire, but he remained speechless. Eventually the King threw him out into the darkness.
Stop again. Do you see what Jesus is trying to teach you about God, now? You are invited to come to the eternal celebration of heaven. But you can’t come on your own terms. Only those who have repented and have clothed themselves with Christ by faith will enter. If you reject the robe of Jesus’ righteousness, he will also reject you.
Many people make up their own ideas about what God is like. But God is real, a personal God. We can’t invent who he is. The good news is he is more loving and compassionate than we could have ever imagined.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, open my eyes to see what God is really like. Lead me to repent of my sin. Robe me in your righteousness by trusting in you as my Savior. Finally bring me to the great celebration of eternal joy in heaven. Amen.
Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
Print FriendlyPowered by WPeMatico