Matthew 22:11-14
"But when the king came into meet the guest, he noticed a man who wasn't wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. 'Friend,' he asked , 'how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?' But the man had no reply. 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.' For many are called, but few are chosen."
As I read this it just tugged on my heart, and made me think about how important it is that we surrender our will for His. The clothing wasn't the important part, it was the heart change, the belief and action of accepting the free gift of Jesus and shining His light. In a commentary by Warren Wiersbe he writes, "The wedding garment would be provided by the host so that everybody would be properly attired and the poor would not feel conspicuous. Salvation is personal and individual. We must accept what God gives to us - the righteousness of Christ - and not try to make it on our own." Our repentance and release of our self is how the Holy Spirit leads us and guides us how to change from who we were to who God made us to be.
The sin nature is there because of Adam but the new life and transformed life is there because God sent Jesus to die and resurrect for us. When we let go, God will transform our hearts and as we continue to grow and seek, we become less and less and the Holy Spirit in us becomes more and more. This working together is how we grow our faith and develop our passion to say, 'not my will but yours.' In chapter 21 Jesus shares a parable about two sons (please read) then He explains His meaning by saying in verse 31, "...I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do." (He is talking to the teachers of religious laws and the priest) See it's not about where we start it's where we finish.
The first boy in the story said no but then did what he was asked. The second boy said yes but then didn't do anything. Our actions show our belief to be true and our words can just be a lot of hot air. At the Rock Church, where I am one of the Pastors, we say, "The Rock a church that cares where you are going... and not where you have been." We all have the same chance to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, the gift can't change, but we all won't follow our words with the love for Christ that comes with obedience. Chapter 22 verse 14 says, "For many are called but few are chosen." We can't feel comfortable with the idea of Jesus as Lord, we need to embrace it and live out what we believe.
It's not about perfection, it's about surrender and co-laboring with God to go beyond our own abilities. Faith that means; assurance, belief, them that believe and fidelity is the Greek word Pistis. This type of faith moves us to action and living out our action just as the first boy did, so I say lets do all we can to be wearing the proper wedding clothes and hear, well done good and faithful servant. Amen
"But when the king came into meet the guest, he noticed a man who wasn't wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. 'Friend,' he asked , 'how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?' But the man had no reply. 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.' For many are called, but few are chosen."
As I read this it just tugged on my heart, and made me think about how important it is that we surrender our will for His. The clothing wasn't the important part, it was the heart change, the belief and action of accepting the free gift of Jesus and shining His light. In a commentary by Warren Wiersbe he writes, "The wedding garment would be provided by the host so that everybody would be properly attired and the poor would not feel conspicuous. Salvation is personal and individual. We must accept what God gives to us - the righteousness of Christ - and not try to make it on our own." Our repentance and release of our self is how the Holy Spirit leads us and guides us how to change from who we were to who God made us to be.
The sin nature is there because of Adam but the new life and transformed life is there because God sent Jesus to die and resurrect for us. When we let go, God will transform our hearts and as we continue to grow and seek, we become less and less and the Holy Spirit in us becomes more and more. This working together is how we grow our faith and develop our passion to say, 'not my will but yours.' In chapter 21 Jesus shares a parable about two sons (please read) then He explains His meaning by saying in verse 31, "...I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do." (He is talking to the teachers of religious laws and the priest) See it's not about where we start it's where we finish.
The first boy in the story said no but then did what he was asked. The second boy said yes but then didn't do anything. Our actions show our belief to be true and our words can just be a lot of hot air. At the Rock Church, where I am one of the Pastors, we say, "The Rock a church that cares where you are going... and not where you have been." We all have the same chance to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, the gift can't change, but we all won't follow our words with the love for Christ that comes with obedience. Chapter 22 verse 14 says, "For many are called but few are chosen." We can't feel comfortable with the idea of Jesus as Lord, we need to embrace it and live out what we believe.
It's not about perfection, it's about surrender and co-laboring with God to go beyond our own abilities. Faith that means; assurance, belief, them that believe and fidelity is the Greek word Pistis. This type of faith moves us to action and living out our action just as the first boy did, so I say lets do all we can to be wearing the proper wedding clothes and hear, well done good and faithful servant. Amen
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