Today's Reading: Matthew 22: 1-14
**For a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please click this link: Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf.
Please click this link to read Matthew 22: 1-14
Bible Study
This is a passage following the last two passages challenging us whether we have repented? If we have repented, then we should be wearing the wedding clothes representing our holiness, our transformed lifestyle of Christlikeness.
N.T. Wright says:
God wants us to be grown up, not babies, and part of being grown up is that we learn that actions have consequences, that moral choices matter, and that real human life isn't like a game of chess where even if we do badly the pieces get put back in the box at the end of the day and we can start again tomorrow. The great, deep mystery of God's forgiveness isn't the same as saying that whatever we do isn't really important because it'll all work out somehow.
Where did all these other guests get their wedding clothes from? If the servants just herded them in, how did they have time to change their clothes? Why should this one man be thrown out because he didn't have the right thing to wear?
Those wedding clothes are the clothes you need to wear for the wedding. And if you refuse to put them on, you are saying you don't want to stay at the party. That is the reality.
Whether you have a lifestyle of Christlikeness living out a life of holiness is your wedding clothes. Are you wearing them now?
Jesus says, "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is near!"
N.T. Wright says:
God wants us to be grown up, not babies, and part of being grown up is that we learn that actions have consequences, that moral choices matter, and that real human life isn't like a game of chess where even if we do badly the pieces get put back in the box at the end of the day and we can start again tomorrow. The great, deep mystery of God's forgiveness isn't the same as saying that whatever we do isn't really important because it'll all work out somehow.
Where did all these other guests get their wedding clothes from? If the servants just herded them in, how did they have time to change their clothes? Why should this one man be thrown out because he didn't have the right thing to wear?
Those wedding clothes are the clothes you need to wear for the wedding. And if you refuse to put them on, you are saying you don't want to stay at the party. That is the reality.
Whether you have a lifestyle of Christlikeness living out a life of holiness is your wedding clothes. Are you wearing them now?
Jesus says, "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is near!"
Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage of scripture we have just read. Offer this time up to Jesus as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe"
Spiritual Journal
What I heard from Jesus today is: Have you worn your wedding clothes?
What I got from Jesus is a question about whether we can be accepted into the heavenly banquet that can come at any time now. If you are reading this blog or listening this podcast today you must have received the invitation card. The question is, have you worn your wedding clothes? Are you living a life of holiness? Are you becoming more and more like Christ? When people see you can they see an example of what Christlikeness really means?
Dear Lord Jesus,
Lead us to follow you more and more closely each day that we can live out a life of holiness and that we are more and more like you day after day. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Please click this link to worship with us - Draw Me Close to You
Chinese praise song - 坐在寶座上聖潔羔羊 The Holy Lamb on the Throne
You can subscribe to my podcast feed here:http://feeds.feedburner.com/discipler123