Dear Christian friends:

This is the time of year when you receive many invitations: graduations, weddings, anniversaries, confirmations. But in our text we read about the best invitation: God's invitation to sinners to come and join His Kingdom. Here He compares it to a great banquet.

But as you know and as we learn from the text many people refuse to accept that wonderful invitation of God. Yes, you and I are also tempted to refuse to accept it. So I urge you today:

We see from this parable which Jesus told that some people let business and pleasure hinder them. (Read verses 18-20) 18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.


Very foolish to refuse Jesus and His wonderful kingdom of heaven for a few dollars or for a few short years of pleasure. You know that beauty and youth fade away quickly. Even if a man gets rich he still has responsibilities, problems, worries, sickness, pain, and finally dies.

The rich must suffer even as the poor, and they do not live any longer. So we are very foolish if we let worldly pleasures and money hinder us from accepting Jesus' kind invitation and service. You know that many people do that.

They say, "I have not time. I'm too busy. I must work. Sunday is the only time I can sleep in and relax with my wife and family. The church always asks for money." People who make these excuses are very foolish and later on they will not be really satisfied and happy. The really happy and satisfied people are ones who believe in Jesus and serve Him.

Jesus said to the sinner woman at Jacob's well who only lived for pleasure, married and divorced five times, "If you will ask me for a drink, I will give you living water, and if you drink my water you will never thirst again." (John 4:14) Man is always thirsty and hungry (searching, restless, never satisfied) until He rests in God. Jesus invites: "Come to Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) Rest for your souls.

Again Jesus warns people who refuse Him because they love money: "Don't lay up for yourselves treasure here on earth where moths destroy and thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven where moths and rust cannot destroy and where thieves cannot break in and steal."

How do we lay up treasure in heaven? When we love Jesus and use our time, talents and money to do His work here on earth. After we die and arrive in heaven our good works will be with us. Jesus will reward and honor us for all we have done for Him. Jesus sees and remembers all that we do for Him. He will not forget it. Where are you storing up your money?

Jesus also shows here that if we now despise His love and refuse His kind invitation at last it will be too late.

When the servants told the Lord that many made excuses and refused his kind invitation he was angry and said, "OK they shall not taste of my supper." Then he commanded the servant to go and invite others to come to his great banquet. Now is the time to hear and accept Jesus for our Savior and surrender ourselves into His service. If we delay and make excuses at last His door will be closed and we will be left our in darkness.

So today come to Jesus. Confess your sins trust Him to forgive you and let His love and Spirit rule in your heart. Serve the Lord with gladness.

Today Thy Mercy Calls Me Hymn

1 Today your mercy calls us
to wash away our sin.
However great our trespass,
whatever we have been,
however long from mercy
our hearts have turned away,
your precious blood can wash us
and make us clean today.

2 Today your gate is open,
and all who enter in
shall find a Father's welcome
and pardon for their sin.
The past shall be forgotten,
a present joy be giv'n,
a future grace be promised,
a glorious crown in heav'n.

Amen