Many are Called Few are Chosen
Many are called Few are Chosen
I love weddings because everyone is happy on this day both the bride, groom and their guests. The biggest wedding of our time is coming up this April, 2018. Britain is marrying America and specifically African American. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are getting married. Three continents (Europe, America and Africa) are coming together in a way unimaginable in the past. The Queen and her kingdom are having the greatest party and spread of all time. These are the hottest invitation tickets in the world. Even country Presidents are not sure of receiving invitation.
But now imagine that the majority in Britain are invited to the wedding. Imagine that all shunned the invitation and on that day, all went about their business. Even worse, the British and Buckingham police who came to remind them of the wedding were killed by the invitees. The wedding still must take place so the Queen decided to invite any and every one (the commoners, the poor and the bad dudes of London) to the wedding and they all came.
Why would anyone in their right mind who was expected to attend the wedding refuse to honor the Queen for marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan? It’s beyond comprehension to refuse the best wedding and a chance to honor the Queen. We really don’t know why. That’s why Jesus, in telling a similar story concluded, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14.
Do you think we understand and comprehend fully why some people say yes to Jesus’ gift of salvation and forgiveness and others don’t? I don’t understand it all. All I know is that no one can come to Jesus unless God the Holy Spirit reveals Jesus to the person. It’s all the work of the Spirit of God. Have you thought about being “chosen”? Jesus said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:44. Jesus also said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain.” (John 15:16).
Have you been called? Have you been chosen? You can’t resist the strong arm of God. That is also why we cannot take his grace for granted.
Are you in the calling business? Some people have died and are dying in the calling business of preaching the gospel. Others are shamed and humiliated for the sake of Christ. You and I cannot be on the sidelines. We must get into the Father’s harvest field as he has sent us to call and invite all to Jesus.
Make no mistakes. The choosing is of God and by God. Let’s do our part in presenting Christ to all and leave the choosing to Him.
The greatest joy is in knowing you and I are chosen. Out of this understanding come forth a lavish life of praise and worship to God. Remember the woman who poured the most expensive fragrant oil on Jesus? She was chosen and forgiven the most because of her sins (Luke 7:37).
Do you realize we were dead in sins and trespasses? We were dead corpses but God breathed his Holy Spirit into us and made us alive. Read Ephesians 2. The Pharisees did not understand that they were dead in sin. Millions today still don’t get it. We are corpses needing new life.
Notice that no one will be allowed at the wedding without the proper clothing. See Matthew 22:11-13. The clothing is the clothing of righteousness of Christ secured on the cross for all. There is no personal merit to see and be with God. All that were chosen were given the wedding dress and they did not buy them. The King and our Father God have given to all freely. Hallelujah!
Bottom line of this message. Let’s live lives of awe and praise to God and let us proclaim Christ to all going to the by-ways and highways to call all to Christ. We proclaim Christ to all not knowing who is chosen. Remember all have already sinned and deserve death and torment forever. God cannot be faulted for anyone going to hell. Read Romans 9. There are no excuses for all peoples for our sins and dishonor of God. Who will you call this day, month and year? Pray for them to see Christ.
Lord, thank you for calling me and choosing me. I am humbled by your choosing and your grace and mercy even in my sins. Help me to worship you forever and may I help you call others of your children to you. Amen.
Matthew 22 The Parable of the Wedding Feast
22 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.”’ 5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. 6 And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.
7 But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ 10 So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. 12 So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and[a]cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
I love weddings because everyone is happy on this day both the bride, groom and their guests. The biggest wedding of our time is coming up this April, 2018. Britain is marrying America and specifically African American. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are getting married. Three continents (Europe, America and Africa) are coming together in a way unimaginable in the past. The Queen and her kingdom are having the greatest party and spread of all time. These are the hottest invitation tickets in the world. Even country Presidents are not sure of receiving invitation.
But now imagine that the majority in Britain are invited to the wedding. Imagine that all shunned the invitation and on that day, all went about their business. Even worse, the British and Buckingham police who came to remind them of the wedding were killed by the invitees. The wedding still must take place so the Queen decided to invite any and every one (the commoners, the poor and the bad dudes of London) to the wedding and they all came.
Why would anyone in their right mind who was expected to attend the wedding refuse to honor the Queen for marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan? It’s beyond comprehension to refuse the best wedding and a chance to honor the Queen. We really don’t know why. That’s why Jesus, in telling a similar story concluded, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14.
Do you think we understand and comprehend fully why some people say yes to Jesus’ gift of salvation and forgiveness and others don’t? I don’t understand it all. All I know is that no one can come to Jesus unless God the Holy Spirit reveals Jesus to the person. It’s all the work of the Spirit of God. Have you thought about being “chosen”? Jesus said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:44. Jesus also said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain.” (John 15:16).
Have you been called? Have you been chosen? You can’t resist the strong arm of God. That is also why we cannot take his grace for granted.
Are you in the calling business? Some people have died and are dying in the calling business of preaching the gospel. Others are shamed and humiliated for the sake of Christ. You and I cannot be on the sidelines. We must get into the Father’s harvest field as he has sent us to call and invite all to Jesus.
Make no mistakes. The choosing is of God and by God. Let’s do our part in presenting Christ to all and leave the choosing to Him.
The greatest joy is in knowing you and I are chosen. Out of this understanding come forth a lavish life of praise and worship to God. Remember the woman who poured the most expensive fragrant oil on Jesus? She was chosen and forgiven the most because of her sins (Luke 7:37).
Do you realize we were dead in sins and trespasses? We were dead corpses but God breathed his Holy Spirit into us and made us alive. Read Ephesians 2. The Pharisees did not understand that they were dead in sin. Millions today still don’t get it. We are corpses needing new life.
Notice that no one will be allowed at the wedding without the proper clothing. See Matthew 22:11-13. The clothing is the clothing of righteousness of Christ secured on the cross for all. There is no personal merit to see and be with God. All that were chosen were given the wedding dress and they did not buy them. The King and our Father God have given to all freely. Hallelujah!
Bottom line of this message. Let’s live lives of awe and praise to God and let us proclaim Christ to all going to the by-ways and highways to call all to Christ. We proclaim Christ to all not knowing who is chosen. Remember all have already sinned and deserve death and torment forever. God cannot be faulted for anyone going to hell. Read Romans 9. There are no excuses for all peoples for our sins and dishonor of God. Who will you call this day, month and year? Pray for them to see Christ.
Lord, thank you for calling me and choosing me. I am humbled by your choosing and your grace and mercy even in my sins. Help me to worship you forever and may I help you call others of your children to you. Amen.
Matthew 22 The Parable of the Wedding Feast
22 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.”’ 5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. 6 And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.
7 But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ 10 So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. 12 So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and[a]cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
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