“The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ “ ‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’ ”

What is interesting about the second half of this parable of the Great Feast, is the desire of the Master to have his banquet hall filled. He had planned for his banquet hall to be full, and he is not going to be denied. This gives us an interesting insight into the heart of God — he is determined to give good gifts and he will not be deterred in this process, even by those who reject him.

The Jews were “the people of God” initially, but the Jewish leaders and the people at large rejected Jesus. God sent his only Son to invite them to the Great Spiritual Feast of dwelling with and being enriched by his Son. But they rejected him. They chanted: “Crucify him!” And so, the feast invitation passed many of them over and it was expanded to the Gentiles (non-Jews) as well.

And this principle applies in our lives today and in our relationship with God. This is a very convicting passage in II Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬-‭12‬a (emphasis mine): “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead HE IS PATIENT WITH YOU, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be LAID BARE. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and SPEED ITS COMING.”


So God is patient with us to a point, and then the door is closed. And like a thief robbing our house, we do not know the time or date of this judgment day coming. When we see God, do we see him as a God who is always there for us, and so we become complacent in our time with him? Many of the people of Jesus’ time were there, just wanting to see more and more miracles, but never wanting to change their hearts. Or do we embrace life with him in control, fully surrendered to his will and SPEED THE DAY OF HIS COMING?

Lord, thank you for all of the amazing gifts you have prepared in advance for me — to enrich my spirit. You are amazing! Help me to seek after you and your ways more and more each day! You enable me to do everything in a more loving way! May I speed the day of your coming!