Offending the Host

July 3

(Luke 14:18-24 NIV) ““But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.' {19} "Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.' {20} "Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.'  {21} "The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.' {22} "'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.'  {23} "Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. {24} I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.””

(Hebrews 12:22-29 NIV) ““But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, {23} to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, {24} to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. {25} See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? {26} At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." {27} The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken--that is, created things--so that what cannot be shaken may remain. {28} Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, {29} for our "God is a consuming fire.””

Sometimes in our “saved by grace” church culture, we forget that “our God is a consuming fire”. It is only because of His great love for us that we are not consumed. But God is also holy and sovereign. By God’s word, the Earth was created -- by His word it is sustained -- and by His word it will one day be destroyed. The Lord does not need our company, but He offers to host us at His great wedding banquet at the end of time. In love, the Lord invites us to join Him. Those who accept God’s invitation are saved. Those who decline it will be lost. Inside, at the banquet, is Heaven -- outside is hell. When we say no to Christ’s invitation, we offend the Host. If we continue to turn Him down, a day will come when the door to the banquet hall will be permanently shut. The time for accepting the invitation will be over. Only God knows when that day will come. Say yes! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day