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THE GREAT BANQUET
Then Jesus said
to him, “Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. At the
time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had
been invited, ‘Come; for everything is ready now.’ But they all
alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have
bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please
accept my apologies.’ Another said, ‘I have just been married,
and therefore I cannot come.’ So the slave returned and reported
this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and
said to his slave, ‘Go out at once into the streets and lanes of
the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the
lame.’ And the slave said, ‘Sir, what you ordered has been done,
and there is still room.’ Then the master said to the
slave, ‘Go out into the roads and lanes and compel people to
come in, so that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of
those who were invited will taste my dinner.’ “
God provides us with everything we need in
this life. And yet, when he calls us to serve, are we there? Are
we off doing chores, or off on a vacation, or are we just too
busy to answer his call? We are promised the great banquet in
heaven and still we sometimes ignore God’s call!
I have been called to serve in 2009, and I
challenge everyone at Reformation to serve with me to answer
God’s call to fill his house. There are many opportunities for
all of us to be a part of this challenge: serving as a member on
one of the ministry boards that oversee existing programs;
offering ideas for new programs; serving on the church council
that provides guidance and leadership; volunteering with the
many activities of the church; supporting the church with weekly
attendance and pledges; and praying for the church, its members
and its staff.
2009 is our opportunity to roll up our
sleeves and answer God’s call to fill his house! Let’s not waste
it. Let’s work together and see what great things we can do!!
Heavenly Father, fill us with the desire
to answer your call and join together to fill your house! Amen
Sheryl Johnson
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