Happy Wednesday! Have you ever had a party or had to plan a party? Do you recall all the details that went into planning? Remember the budget, theme, color scheme, paper/plastic or formal dining wares, entertainment, food (dessert for sure) and the invitations.  Those were the top priorities, but there was a lot of work involved. Finally, you received the RSVPs or regrets – were you disappointed? Did some show up without an RSVP and others simply didn’t show even though they RSVP’d? Well today and tomorrow we will read on the Parable of the Great Wedding Feast. Enjoy today’s devotion and have a wonderful day.

BIBLE VERSE – Matthew 22:1-6 NLT
“¹ Jesus also told them other parables. He said, ² “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. ³ When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!

⁴ “So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’ ⁵ But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. ⁶ Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them.

REFLECTION
In this parable, God is the king who prepared the wedding feast for his son Jesus. God sent his servants to notify/inform those who were invited (see v.3 – they were already the selected guests). These guests were top of the “A” list and hand picked to attend, but they refused the invitation.

Yet, God didn’t give up. He sent additional servants to tell them everything was ready – they only needed to come. But sadly, the invited guest declined the offer and continued about their business/lives. Unfortunately, some got so mad at the messengers/servants for the invitation that they received that they killed them.

Brothers and sisters, God is not like the “godfather” where he is making an offer you can’t refuse. God is making you an offer that you should not refuse. God will not force his hand, he will allow you to make a choice to follow him, but be prepared for the outcome of the choices you make. Don’t be like the first group of invited guests (which we will read more on tomorrow). Today, the banquet is ready for you, will you come?

PRAYER
Father God, in the name of Jesus we come to you in prayer. Lord, we thank you for inviting us to the wedding feast. Lord, forgive us for the times we accepted the invitation and didn’t show up. Lord, today we desire to accept and partake in all the things you have prepared for us. Lord, direct our steps, tame our tongues, make us bold and courageous for You. Lord, send us out to share the invitation with others. Use us as your vessels. Lord, work in our lives and change us to be all that you have designed us to be. Lord, we pray for those who have received the invitation, but have not committed to following you. Lord, speak to their hearts and minds. Help them to see you at work in their homes, jobs and every facet of their lives. Lord, be with the lost and hopeless. Lord, encourage them and lift them out of despair. Lord, our Provider, be with those who are out of work or are not receiving steady income, Lord meet their needs. Open the doors of employment, end the government shutdown, and give favor for promotion wherever you see fit. Lord, we pray for those who are suffering from depression and anxiety. Lord, give them relief from those conditions. Lord, break those chains and set them free. Lord, you know every need of each reader, please hear their personal prayers and respond to them with clarity, so that they know it is You. Lord, we need you. Change us – keep changing us. In Jesus name, amen!

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