Today's Passage - Matthew 22:1-7

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Matthew 22:1-7   Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. Then he sent some more servants and said, 'Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle has been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.' But they paid no attention and went off-one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city."             A king prepared a banquet and invited many to come. The banquet represents all the abundant grace that God has prepared for us in Christ. But in the parable many refused to come, just like many neglect the invitation of God today, and as a result, they cannot enjoy the grace that God has prepared for them.             There are a few reasons that cause people to neglect. First, they do not understanding the true need of their lives. The true need refers to the fact that we all live in darkness and are in need of the salvation of Jesus Christ. When ones do not see that they have needs, they wont come to God to seek the answer to their needs. The biggest problem among human being is sin. As long as the problem of sin is not dealt with, it is impossible to have true satisfaction, peace, or joy. The problem of sin cannot be solved by ourselves. Many mistakenly thought that they can save themselves, that's why many times we hear people say "I will believe when I am a better person" or "If I believe, I will strive to be a perfect Christian." Statements like this result from not understanding that ones need help from the Lord to solve the problem of sin. Ones that live in the bondage of sins cannot break the bondage by our own strength, which is why God send his son to this world. Because Jesus is a sinless savior, we can enjoy all the grace from God in Him; He has suffered the consequence of sin upon the cross, so that we can enjoy the salvation and satisfaction in God.             Secondly, they do not understand that life is indeed very short. If we truly understand that life is short, we would all be smarter investors that would not seek temporary investments and profits. Only when we understand that only eternal investment in God can bring us eternal life, we will come to God and seek His help. May God help us not to be foolish and choose to stay afar from God and His grace.       Pray with Pastor Tong     Lord, I thank You, for You came to seek us first, for You came to grant us grace. May You give us a gentle and humble heart so that we can turn to You and seek Your grace, thereby receive Your abundance. I thank you and I pray all these in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen!