HAVE YOU ACCEPTED YOUR INVITATION TO THE WEDDING SUPPER OF THE LAMB?

SCRIPTURE:
"Then the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited 
to the wedding supper of the Lamb!' And he added, ‘these are the true words 
of God.'" 
(Revelation 19:9)

MEDITATION:
In our world today, it is not unusual to be invited to parties frequently.
We are urged to save the date and to RSVP.
When there were parties during the days of Jesus, 
the host would send servants door-to-door 
to issue invitations to the guests and garner their responses.

There were no card companies or postal carriers; 
no clock towers or wrist watches.
The invitations only listed the day of the party, but not the hour;
the hour would depend on when everything was ready.
When everything was prepared, the servants would go out again 
on the day of the party to call the guests to the banquet.
The guests were to head to the banquet 
as soon as the servant knocked on their door.

This gives us a better idea of what happens in the spiritual realm.
God sent His Son and servant, Jesus, to issue an invitation from the cross.
God is the Host who addressed the invitations around two thousand years ago.
Those who accept (RSVP to God) are born anew spiritually.

As a result, they are not only expected, but empowered 
to live in such a way that they are ready for the day Jesus will 
return calling us to the heavenly banquet table.
Not only do we not know the hour, 
but we don’t know the day when we will be ushered to a great wedding 
feast – the marriage banquet for Jesus and His bride, the church.

That church consists of you, me, 
and all who have responded to His invitation throughout the ages.
Will we be dressed and ready for our groom 
at the proper time – when everything is prepared?

Jesus told the following story:
"A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. When all was 
ready, he sent his servant around to notify the guests that it was time for 
them to come. But they all began making excuses. One said he had just bought
a field and wanted to inspect it, so he asked to be excused. Another said he 
had just bought five pair of oxen and wanted to try them out. Another had 
just been married, so he said he couldn’t come." (Luke 14:16-20)

It upset the master that his planned guests were too busy with work, new 
purchases, and their relationships, to come to the feast he had prepared. 
So what did he do? He invited others to attend the banquet.
It’s sad to think about so many turning down an invitation from the master.

But it is even more depressing to see that many people missed out 
on something special because they had been sidetracked by the ordinary.
They missed out on an event, 
however if we fail to respond to His invitation, we will miss out on eternity.
We don’t want to miss out on something this special because we are too busy, 
too distracted, too stubborn, or too much of a procrastinator.

ACTION:
Have you RSVP’d to your invitation from the Lord?
If so, are you living a life that is prepared for the knock on your door 
notifying you it is time to go to the wedding feast?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for inviting me to the wedding feast of Jesus 
and the church. I definitely want to attend the banquet, so please help me 
to be prepared daily for the call that everything has been prepared. Not 
only that, but show me how to impress on others the importance of accepting 
Your invitation. In Your Word, You have given me Your expectations of me. 
Forgive me if I am guilty of ignoring Your instructions due to my own 
selfishness. From this day forward, I pray that You will help me obey all 
of Your instructions and not just the one that I like, and that fit my 
lifestyle. Jesus, You sacrificed much for me, I want to sacrifice much for 
You in return.”