HONORING GOD’S CALLING AND CHOICE

Matthew 22:2-14 >>

2 “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son.

3 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!

4 “So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’

5 But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. 6 Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them.

7 “The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town.

8 And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor. 9 Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’

10 So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.

11 “But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding.

12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply.

13 Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

—

1. The people who were invited to partake in the banquet [blessings] did not realize the significance and honor that was brought upon them, and they rejected the king’s invitation and went about doing their own business. Some of their reasons to turn down the invitation was to go tend to their own farm, business or just go their own way.

2. The kind of attitude we should have in receiving God’s calling is one that is happy and prepared [verses 11-12].

3. Self reflection: My attitude these days in responding to the tasks and responsibilities that God has given to me is that I need to be more taking it as an honor and responding to His calling wholeheartedly and excitedly, doing what I can to make myself ready for the wedding party.

CHARACTER OF THE CHOSEN: SERVE THE LORD

Thursday, June 18,  2009

Matthew 25:31-40 >>
The Sheep and the Goats

31″When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40″The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

—

1. Jesus’ family that is most dejected, are those who are are in need and are in less fortunate situations [verses 35-39]. This refers to people who are sick, in prison, are hungry and thirsty.

2. I have seen these people living in unfortunate circumstances around me, and I want to serve them more so I can help to meet their needs.

CHARACTER OF THE CHOSEN: GOOD QUALITY

Matthew 13:47-52

The Parable of the Net

47 Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

51Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.
“Yes,” they replied.

52He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

—

1. From the parable above, what happens during the filtering process is that the angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and the wicked will be throwin into the fiery furnace “where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (v.50).”

2. Some characteristics of people who have the quality of their life in living righteously are that they are loving and forgiving and live in integrity. I think I try hard to live out these characteristics. Although sometimes it is difficult, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil 4:13).”

GOD HAS CALLED AND CHOSEN ME

Luke 6:12-16, John 15:16-19

Luke 6:12-16 >>

12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.

13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:

14 Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,

15 Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot,

16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

John 15:16-19 >>

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

17 This is my command: Love each other.

18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.

19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

—

1. Before Jesus chose His 12 disciples, he spent some time with the Father in prayer.
2. Meditating on John 15:16-17, the purpose of God calling us and choosing us from the world is for us to go and bear lasting fruit and love one another.
3. God needed to call me out of my old life because He needed to tell me my purpose for living and show His love for me so we can have a budding relationship together!