"For many are called (invited and summoned), but few are chosen." Matthew 22:14
In Matthew chapter 22 Jesus is telling a story about a king who was hosting a wedding banquet for his son. The king invited all of his friends to come and celebrate with him, but not one of them responded to the invitation that was given. He sent his servants out to find them and let them know that the time had come for the party to begin, but when the servants approached them, they only shrugged their shoulders and went off, one to weed his garden, another to work in his shop. The rest, with nothing better to do, beat up the messengers and then killed them. When the king found out what happened, he said, "We have a wedding banquet all prepared but no guests to attend! The ones I invited weren't up to it. Go out into the busiest intersections in town and invite anyone you find to the banquet." The servants went out on the streets and rounded up everyone they laid eyes on, good and bad, regardless. And so the banquet was on- every place filled...
Many are called, but few are chosen.
There is only one difference between those who are called and those who are chosen. It is not the that the chosen are the elite, the most talented, the greatest looking, or the most knowledgeable. The chosen are simply those who hear the invitation and respond to the call. So why did the strangers off the street respond to the King's call when the King's own friends did not?
Perhaps the friends were to preoccupied with the cares of life. Upon hearing the King's request, one went off to weed his garden and another went to work in his shop. Really? That doesn't make much sense does it? I don't know about you, but if the choice came down to feasting with my friend or working in my garden, I would probably choose the former before the latter. But how many times do I miss the call from my King to come away and be with Him, to celebrate with Him, because the work of my hands has taken precedence over His call on my life?
Perhaps the friends did not understand the magnitude of the offer that was being extended to them. Maybe they forgot somewhere along the road that their friend was not just any ordinary man-- he was THE KING-- and His Majesty himself was inviting them to dinner. Perhaps that's why it was so easy for the strangers on the street to respond. They understood how valuable the opportunity being extended to them was. They understood what an honor it would be to sit at the same table with the King. Have I become too comfortable with this idea that the King of Kings has invited me over to dine with Him? Have I forgotten what an honor it is that He would extend that opportunity to me? Do I ignore his call because He does not hold an important enough position in my mind?
We don't want to be those friends who miss the opportunity. We don't want to preoccupy ourselves with the cares of this world instead of responding to His invitation. We don't want to forget exactly WHO is inviting us over to dinner.
This is the purpose of this blog. To share with you the things that the Lord is revealing to me as I respond to His call, as I dine with Him, as I spend time in His presence. I am the chosen. You are the chosen. We are the chosen.
