Sunday, January 14
Full house
Scripture: Genesis 27-28, Luke 14
Luke 14:21–23 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.
Observation
Jesus was having dinner with Jewish religious leaders who were certain of their place at God’s great feast in His Kingdom. He told them a story about a man who prepared a great banquet, but those he invited all made excuses and didn’t come. (The Jewish religious leaders would have been the invited ones.) So the man told his servants to “bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.” This was done, and there was still room—it was a very large banquet! So the servants were told to go out everywhere and “compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.”
Jesus’ point was that God’s kingdom was open not just to the Jews, but to everyone everywhere. And Jesus gave us a glimpse into the heart of God: He wants his house to be filled!
Therefore, we are encouraged to “compel” people to come in. Obviously, Jesus didn’t mean that we use force, but persuasion. The word “compel” is more about how earnest and loving we are than any strong arm techniques.
Application
God wants a full house, and extends the invitation to everyone everywhere. And we, His servants, are sent with the good news: “You’re invited. God wants you to come to His party!” And we’re to “compel” people to come in, not by force or strength, but by persuasion and love and enthusiasm.
Laina and I recently invited some friends to join us on vacation. They declined. But we re-upped the invite each time we saw them. They eventually relented and agreed to come—happily. I don’t think they felt “compelled” in the forceful sense of the word, but in the loved and invited sense.
God wants a full house. And we’re the ones who fill it by inviting anyone anywhere to join us in the party!
Prayer: Lord, here’s my life. Use me wherever I go to be Your messenger, to invite people to Your party. Use me to “compel” people in the very best sense of the word. Use me to not only to fill churches here but populate heaven forever.