Genesis 23; Matthew 22; Nehemiah; Acts 22

Last week, I watched a drama about the young Queen Victoria. She was being  courted by Prince Albert and had invited him to come visit her at Windsor Castle. When he arrived, a special suit prepared for him was delivered to his room, compliments of the Queen. The gift of the magnificent suit was a great honor; it was the dress of the House of Windsor and to be worn at the formal dinner and party. To wear the suit was to be welcomed into the Queen’s home and family.

That got me thinking about today’s parable:

The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come.  Again he sent other slaves, saying ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’  But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’  Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. 

But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’  And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.  Matthew 22:2-14

Thanks to BBC, I have a deeper understanding of what Jesus has offered me: new clothing for his kingdom’s party. Why haven’t I marveled more at the wonder of what he has presented me? He offers to clothe me with his perfect righteousness. Why haven’t I allowed myself to bask in the luxuriousness and grandeur of this gift I have done nothing to deserve and perhaps taken a spin or two to rejoice in the splendor of it all?  When have I declined his gift and stubbornly clung to my old rags before him and insisted that I was “good enough?”  Why don’t I let my heart swell up inside of me and burst out in song at the beauty of it all?

The remnant of Israel understood godly joy when God called them back to Jerusalem and they rebuilt the wall. Their joy seemed to know no bounds:

They offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. The joy of Jerusalem was heard far away. Nehemiah 9:43

Lord, I know myself in this: I hold back both emotionally and physically in responding to the goodness of what you have done for me. You welcome me into your kingdom and dress me with your righteousness at the cost of your son, Jesus who died for me, and yet I hold back in thanking you and singing your praises. Help me respond to your love with great joy and singing today. Amen

Kathy

 

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2Samuel 12; 2Corinthians 5; Ezekiel 19; Psalm 64 & 65

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.  We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.  God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God

~2 Corinthians 5:20, 21

What a responsibility we have as Christians, to be Christ’s ambassador?

Wow…I had to ask myself; Is this something I consider when waking up in the morning, when doing a daily devotional or how about when I’m walking through my day performing  errands and mundane tasks?

I don’t know about you but I can say without a doubt that until today, when reading this verse, I had never considered myself an ambassador.

Now wait, I know I am called to reflect Christ in my words, actions and lifestyle, to love my neighbor, be gentle and self controlled.  But the word ambassador goes further than reflecting.  As with a diplomatic ambassador I am an authorized representative or messenger not for a country, but for God’s kingdom and I am authorized by God not man.

Paul prayed for us earnestly on Christ’s behalf to be reconciled to God.  Think about this, Paul is crying out to us, beseeching because of what Christ did for us; to be reconciled to God.

I examined myself to see if I was reconciled to God.

Had I restored my relationship with God?

Am I consistent in my walk?

Do I submit? (this was a tough one)

Does my faith line up with scripture?

Shouldn’t these be the characteristics of Gods ambassadors?  I believe that these are the least I can do.

The way I see it, our reconciliation to God is only possible through his provision to us in Christ; therefore God is using me and you make His appeal to the world…what an honor.  I am humbled that God trusts me to be a messenger…I represent Christ and so do you.

Father, thank you for the humbling opportunity to represent you, your message and above all Jesus Christ.  I pray that I honor you in this ambassadorship while in this earthly body.  Father I ask for your guidance and wisdom with this responsibility; use me as your instrument.

Cindi (rustiqueart)