Thursday, May 8, 2008

SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY: Matthew 22:1-14

PSALM OF THE WEEK: Psalm 24

HYMN OF THE DAY: CH#665 “Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life” http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/w/h/e/wherecro.htm

VERSE OF THE DAY: “For many are called, but few are chosen” Matthew 22:24 NRSV

 

Jesus told several “Kingdom of Heaven” parables that foretold what the church would be like. In this parable, the king first invites all those people everyone expects to be invited, but they are all too busy with their own selfish affairs.  Then the king invites those who don’t deserve to come.  The church is made up of those, “both good and bad” (see verse 10b), who have been invited.  Some, like the man in verse 11 still don’t want to fully participate in the festivities.  The King will take care of them at the proper time (see verse 13).  We need to humbly realize that the truth about old saying that the church is the only place where the only requirement to join is to realize you aren’t good enough to belong there.  We have been invited because the King loves us enough to send an “only begotten son (see John 3:16) to die and be resurrected for us so that we may enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  We may not be worthy of it, but the Lord has prepared a great party for us called the church. Come on in and enjoy the feast. 

 

PRAYER: O King of Heaven, thank you for welcoming me into your wondrous bounty.  May I praise you in church and in my life, for you have given me all I have and made me all I am. Amen.

 

See you in Church Sunday,

Pastor Sandy

 

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