Being a road builder has connected me to trade associations whose mission it is to influence how our transportation infrastructure is funded. This has introduced me to the world of politics where banquets are common. The invited ones to these galas are those with money and the best seats are reserved for those with the largest amounts of it. It has been an honor to have been invited to many annual banquets but most of them have become pretty ho hum after a few decades. Even though it would be inappropriate to miss most of these events, I confess that when I read the invitation, I find myself thinking, “Do I not have five yoke of oxen that need proving on that day?”
There is however a banquet I deeply aspire to attend….
Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'”
The oxen comment comes from Jesus’ Parable of the Dinner in Matthew 14. A great man has invited many to attend a gala. Everyone seemed to have excuses. None of the excuse were evil. They were simply the things that were more important to them than this man or His banquet. The Parable of the Marriage Feast in Matthew 22 is very similar yet with more sobering consequences to those shunning the invitation.
The fear of God should cause us to tremble if we have been too busy to respond to the persistent invitations the Father has made to our hearts. God’s invitations don’t come on embossed stationary. They come as that still small voice inviting us to slow down and find time for Him.
My trembling is caused because those who did not have ears to hear squander the highest privilege afforded man – the invitation to intimately associate with the King of the Universe.
Because many believed that above all, the oxen needed tending, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth as many do finally hear God’s voice as it says, “For many are called but few are chosen.” Or, “For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste of my dinner.”
I suppose one of the things that motivates me to distribute the Blue Book devotional is that it has been one of the most effective invitations to intimacy with God that I have ever been entrusted with. While church and Sunday School attendance may be good, I have a sense that those who will be attending the Marriage Supper of the Lamb will be those who have cultivated their friendship with God privately in the most intimate places of their hearts. This is the spirit and the core DNA of the Blue Book.
Their is a banquet that the Lord sets before us each morning that is new and fresh and is ours for the taking. He Himself is the Bread of Life. For the believer, His presence within our hearts is the miracle worth attending to. We must learn that the oxen can wait.
Father, how glorious and majestic is Your name in all the earth! May You assist us in our making ourselves ready. Let our attending the Marriage Supper of Your Son become fixed in our dreams and expectations. Lead us Father into that green pasture where we learn to rest utterly in Your righteousness; where our works spring from Your Life within and we are clothed appropriately. We will rejoice and be glad and give the glory to You! Amen.
Rob thanks for your desire and success in spreading the good news! I have been reading the Blue Book and your commentary since about October of 2012.
Father let us find where You are working and run there. Thanks for letting us be a part of what You are doing and for our intimacy with You. To Your Glory and in Your name amen.