Scripture - Luke 14:13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.
Observation - Jesus is trying to fill His house. His father is about to have a party and it will be the party of a life time and Jesus wants us to invite everyone we can find. he says if you invited all of these - the poor, the blind, the crippled, the lame you will be blessed. I believe I just found a key to blessing that has yet to be unlocked. God is paying back blessings for the invitations that we make. Going to get the broken people and the hurt people opens doors to blessings. God has placed a motivator in the mix. He says if you go get these I will bless you. What a deal...
Application - Yesterday I met a man outside of a restaurant. I was with one of my associates from the church and we were finishing a brainstorming session about direction and spiritual direction for our body. Right outside the door was a man that looked to be in his mid 30's. When we came through the door he immediately started his speech "Do you happen to have a few bucks to spare, I am diabetic and need to get some food." Once engaged in the conversation I felt I had permission to ask some questions. After all the price of answering a few questions was a meal across the street. Fair deal, I think. I began to talk to this young man and ask him about his past and what got him to the place of being homeless. I wanted to know what really drove a mid 30's man to the place of no hope, no plan, no purpose, no anything. What got him there? He began to tell me a story of his past and where he was from. He told about how he once knew the Lord but was disappointed by the people in the church. He was focused in the wrong direction and doing the wrong things. It was amazing to hear him speak and the more he spoke the more you could see God beginning to work on his heart. I made the man a deal. I told him I would buy him lunch but I wanted 2 things in return: 1. I wanted to pray for him that God would bless him and change his circumstances and 2. I wanted to invite him to church. Simple. He agreed and we proceeded to purchase the lunch. By the end of our conversation this young man and I struck the beginnings of a pretty good relationship. I know this is a lot today but as I read through Luke this morning I remember this event and realized there are so many that need to be invited to the party. I thought as I was standing there with this young man - there are so many opportunities to share Jesus if we will only open our eyes. I was totally focused on them and now looking in Luke realize that God wants to bless my life through the invitations. There are so many like this young man that need help and they need it today.
Prayer - God refocus my attention! Get me out of the four walls of our building and into the neighborhoods and businesses of our community. Get me out there inviting them to your party. I know that your banquet will fill them up and meet every need they (we) have. God help me to refocus on the important priorities.
