SCRIPTURE: Luke 14 

KEY POINTS TO PONDER: Imagine being invited to a massive party held by a huge celebrity, and then realizing that all the guests were regular Joes just like you that hadn’t expected an invite at all. When Jesus talks about the banquet and the invitations in verses 12-24, he is using the party as an analogy to communing with Jesus, the true King of Kings, and also a reference to heaven. Those who had been working all their lives for an invitation like this--the Pharisees, the scribes, the teachers of the law- -had become so distracted by their religiosity that when the invitation came they didn’t even want it! And so Jesus is showing his expansive love and welcome; his invitation is for everyone. He desires all people to come and feast with him, and is saddened that those who had worked so hard to join the party had become self-consumed and lost interest. As Christians, we can know whole-heartedly that Jesus is holding out an invitation for us to join his party--to be close to him, to have intimacy with him, to be a part of the amazing ways he is redeeming people and bringing freedom to his children. That leaves us with a choice; are we going to make excuses as the Pharisees did, or will we expectantly join God’s party and see what the King of Kings has planned? 

CHALLENGING TERMS: The reference to salt in verses 34- 35 had some cultural significance in that time and place. Most salt came from the Dead Sea nearby and was naturally impure. If it wasn’t processed correctly, it would taste very poor and couldn’t be used with food, and was practically useless. So are we if we try to live for Christ without a real relationship with him! 

REFLECTION: What prevents you from experiencing regular intimacy with God? 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for giving us an invitation to dwell close to you and deeply know you, the Creator of the stars and planets! 

Help me to grow by setting aside the things that prevent me from fully realizing the gift of the banquet that Jesus has prepared for me.