Invited

Invited

Revelation 19: 9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

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Receiving my first invitation to a wedding felt special and strange. I had never been invited to a wedding by myself. I went and saw the couple exchange their vows. At the reception, they sat me with family members who made me feel like I was part of their family.

• I felt honored to be invited.
• I felt special, even though it was not my special day.
• I felt part of the family for a moment.

John, the disciple JESUS loved, was told to write something special. He was told how blessed people are who are invited to the marriage feast of the LAMB. John, possibly hearing the words with astonishment, may have needed the angel to add some assurance. The angel said , “These are the true sayings of God.”

My Observations:

• GOD gave me free will to choose HIM.
• My service to HIM includes serving people and telling people about the great news about CHRIST.
• I will be invited based on true belief in JESUS as my Savior and my clothes in heaven will be representative of any service I did that was acceptable to GOD.

Being invited someplace is an honor. I mean, Being wanted, desired and needed really feels great! When GOD invited me, HE wants, desires and needs me. But what do I have to offer? Nothing. HE has it all and still want, desires and needs me.

GOD invites you and me to participate in life HIS way, every day. HE places people in front of us and wants us to show HIS love and listen for opportunities to share the love of JESUS with our mouth to the right person. I am grateful for GOD’s invitation.

Challenge

• Why do you think the writer had to be told “These are the true sayings of God.?”
• Have you ever been invited to something?
• Will you accept GOD’s invitation to live inside you when HE knocks on your heart today?

Invited

Invited

John 8: ²¹ Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.”

²² So the Jews said, “Will He kill Himself, because He says, ‘Where I go you cannot come’?”

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Adorned with gifts, my boss made their last appearance. It was my boss’s last day, so the tradition was to have a last meal dinner. About a year and a half later I got in touch with the person. “Want to come over to this company?” was the question. “Absolutely” was my answer.

• It felt great to be invited.
• It felt great to be thought of in a positive way.
• It felt great to be part of someone’s group.

JESUS says to the church leaders, who did not believe in HIS position as GOD, “I AM going away, and you will seek ME, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.” HIS words were not inviting.

• GOD invites me to be in HIS family.
• GOD wants me to see with my heart that I need HIM.
• GOD seeks me especially when I sin so I can be forgiven.

Being invited gives me the option to say, “No, I do not want to attend.” Unfortunately, the church leaders of that time said just that. They held onto the Bible’s words so tightly, that they missed the heart of what was said. When JESUS, the Messiah showed up, they indignantly refused to believe in HIM.

JESUS invites everyone, even me, to believe they are sinners in need of salvation from eternal separation from GOD. Satan’s pride of trying to be GOD would not be tolerated by GOD. HE threw Satan out of heaven, along with his followers. HE seeks HIS creation who are being fooled. I am grateful HE invited me to seek HIS family members.

• Do you wander around aimlessly?
• Do you feel you are not part of a family even though you were born into one?
• Will you accept GOD’s invitation as HE knocks on the door of your heart today and seek those HE wants to find?