Many or Few?

Genesis 34-36; Luke 14

“…’Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.’ Jesus replied: ‘A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests…Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town  and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame…Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet….And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.’”

Luke 14:15, 16, 21, 23, 24, 27

Jesus told the story of inviting guests to a wedding banquet and being rejected. So, the invitation was expanded to the poor, crippled, blind, and lame, with the goal of filling the banquet hall. He then spoke to large crowds which probably included the poor, crippled, blind, and lame. He said that anyone who wants to be his disciple must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow him. 

So, which one is it?

Is this kingdom for all, or just for a few?

The answer is yes! The invitation to salvation and citizenship in the kingdom of heaven is open to all, but few pass the test. The test is the humility to leave behind our righteousness and receive, by faith, Christ’s righteousness for us. In dying to self and the life of self, we choose to receive the life of Christ for us and in us. Many are called, but few are chosen or pass the test.

Are we making excuses, or have we surrendered our life and will to Christ?

“Lord Jesus, you are my life, for your glory.”