Plans are underway for a British royal wedding, the third that has taken place during my lifetime. This time it is Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. We can be sure they are busy finalizing their guest list. But once again, like the first two weddings, I doubt I will receive an invitation. Only the famous, the wealthy, the influential, and powerful people will receive one of their gold engraved wedding invitations. An invitation or lack of an invitation is a powerful communicator. If any of us ‘commoners’ received one, we would feel special. On the other hand, think about someone who is expecting an invitation and doesn’t get one. They will certainly feel snubbed.
I’m not surprised the Royals have never invited me. Not only do I not meet their standards, I’ve never been a person that people included in their activities. I was always the last person picked when my classmates played baseball. Rarely did someone invite me to a social function—birthday parties, a group going to the movies, informal gatherings of friends, etc. Anyone who has faced similar rejections and snubs knows that this can be painful and bring long-term emotional scars.
Yet, for me all that faded into the background when I received one particular invitation. Here I was an often rejected, unsocial, poor, and awkward teenager with an invitation from the highest of royalty. No one equaled this inviter’s wealth and power. How did He know me? How did I get on His list? It came from the King of King and Lord of Lords—His name was Jesus. All I had to do was RSVP that I accepted and simply come. With this came multiple benefits. I received forgiveness of all my sins, acceptance into God’s Kingdom, and given eternal life. Accepting His invitation forever changed my life. I soon discovered this wouldn’t be the last invitation I received from Jesus.
The number of invitations in the Bible is amazing when you begin studying them. Each invitation offers some type of blessings to those receive them. The first invitation I can find is in Genesis. The Lord said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, for I consider you godly among this generation (7:1 NET). The Ark provided Noah and his family shelter from the judgement about to come upon the earth. It was their means of salvation. Invitations continue all through the Bible until the closing of the Book of Revelation. The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life (22:17 NIV).
After accepting God’s invitation, I discovered even more invitations. When I was over whelmed, He invited me “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest (Mat 11:28). When I became spiritually dry, He said “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink (Joh 7:37). When I felt worthless without purpose, Paul wrote from his prison cell. Jesus has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity (2Tim 1:9). For every need, I found an invitation. The invitation that best describes all God’s invitations is found in Isaiah 55:1-3.
Verse one addresses those who are thirsty for God but have nothing. You who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost. Verse two addresses those who are seeking more of God. But they are wasting what they do have and working for something that does not satisfy. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Verse 2b and 3 gives the reason so many believers are dissatisfied. They are listening to the wrong sources. Listen, listen to me . . . Give ear and come to me; listen. When we come and listen to Him, we eat what is good and delight in the richest of fare. And He promises He will make an everlasting covenant with you.
Jesus tells two parables about invitations. In Luke he says, A man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many (Lk 14:16). However, people gave excuses. I have bought a piece of land and I need to go out and look at it (v18); I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out (v19); I have married a wife, and for that reason I cannot come ((v20). In the second parable, a king [who] gave a wedding feast for his son (Matt 22:2). After many refusals, enough people came for them to begin the feast but the King noticed one man who wasn’t properly dressed. Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes (v12)? The man was thrown out. That seems crude to us but the Oriental custom provided garments for the guests who were invited to a royal feast. A guest only had to put it on. He clothes us with a garment of salvation and robe of righteousness when we accept His invitation (Is 61:10).
No excuse is adequate to refuse God’s invitations, everything needed is provided, and all cost have been paid.
Sustaining Word for the Week: You are invited to spend eternity with God and have all your needs met in this life. RSVP ____ Yes ____ No.