“…Come to the wedding.” – Mt. 22:4
During our lifetime we will all be invited to attend or participate in a variety of events. Some of these offers are very cordial, while others are obligatory. In the military, when you were invited to something, it generally meant that you had better show up. In my younger years, my wife and I were invited to a number of birthday parties and weddings. More recently the invites have largely been to attend visitations and funerals.
Jesus issues an invitation to follow Him, but like His example of the wedding invitation in Matthew 22:4-14, many refuse to take Him up on His offer. God has given us the Scriptures, His Son, and His Holy Spirit. He has provided us with more than enough for us to understand and to do His will. But the next step belongs to each of us. It is up to us to read the Scriptures, to believe in His Son, and to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
While God desires a deep and meaningful relationship with us, He will not force Himself on us. If we want to experience a more abundant life both now and in eternity (John 10:10), He requires action on our part. In Matthew 7:7-8, Jesus said: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Does God seem distant to you? Is He detached from your life? Maybe that’s because you are waiting for Him to come to you. If so, you’ve got it all backwards. The invitation is extended to us; we can either accept or reject it. When we accept, He responds to us. But, we must do more than just stand at the door. We need to knock on the door, open it, and walk right in.
You possess a standing invitation from the Lord of lords, to join Him in the greatest adventure of your life. Don’t miss out.
