Devotional – January 6, 2021

Do you like attending weddings? I sure do, there is usually so much excitement during the preparation time. There is the usual busyness of purchasing the perfect dress, shoes and accessories; getting hair and nails done, testing out make up and the whole deal of tittivating- if that is a real word. 🙂

On the day of the wedding we pull out all the stops to look fabulous; possibly competing with the bride. Weddings don’t happen everyday, so I understand the need for all the effort we make. Women love looking fabulous and that’s a good thing.

This week’s theme is: The Call of God. In today’s devotional, we are still discussing The Parable of the Wedding Banquet. Remember in yesterday’s Devotional: An Invitation to a Great Feast we talked about the parable Jesus told His Disciples about a King who planned a Wedding Banquet for His son.

Today we continue to look at how the story progressed- this is how it went: the banquet was being held as scheduled, and though some of the invited guests were too busy to accept the invitation, the King had given instructions to invite others who were not on the original guest list.

There was an important reason for telling this parable to His Disciples. He wanted them to know and understand the nature of God, and what the Kingdom of Heaven was like. He also addressed the tendency of men to be pre-occupied so much so that they miss the Call of God.

A question for you: “have you ever had an experience where you felt a tug at your heart, possibly at a time when you made a decision to do something, and somehow you just don’t feel comfortable with it. It’s the time when we utter the famous word: “Mi mind did tell me”! I have said it too, I know that feeling.

There was a time when I had many experience like this, but I didn’t quite understand it. As the years have passed, and I become more spiritually aware, I realize that it was the Spirit of God nudging me. I now know that God was continually nudging me to take a different course than the one I was on. I know now that it is in God’s nature to give guidance to His children.

So the story continues; the King is now giving attention to the guests in attendance. He soon realizes that there is one who is not appropriately dressed and questions how he got in.

‘He asked: how did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless.

St. Matthew 22:12

Why do you think did the King ask the man that question? Did it really matter what the man was wearing?

The Gospel of Jesus was primarily focused on teaching about the Kingdom of God; Christ’s mission was to teach what the Heavenly Father planned, and expected of His children. In this Parable of the Wedding Feast here are some of the truths we can learn:

1. The King extended a cordial invitation to selected guests.
2. Those who accepted the invitation and adhered to the dress code were well received when they attended.
3. The King was paying close attention to the attending guests.
4. The King was able to identify a guest who had not adhered to the dress code.
5. The King was not pleases when His guests did not make the effort to adhere to the dress code.

I believe that this parable is a great blessing to us as we seek to understand the message of the Bible. When we understand the nature of God we are better able to live in a pleasing way. From this story, we hear Jesus teaching us that:

1. You are invited to be a guest at the King (God, the Father) banquet. – You ought to be attentive to how God extends invitations to you to enjoy His presence and blessings.
2. You have the choice to attend; the King would love to have you in His presence – Be careful that you are not too busy and miss God’s extended hand.
3. You are expected to water the appropriate attire so that you are warmly welcomed – Pay close attention to protocols to be observed.

In essence, we are encouraged to, accept God’s invitation, show up on time and adhere to the dress code. turn up. As we make efforts to dress our physical bodes, may we also dress our spirits well too. It is written:

“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels

Isaiah 61:10

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The Appropriate Attire for our spirit is righteousness (right standing with God). May we seek after righteousness as a priority.

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