When you’re invited to a wedding, where do you like to sit? If you’re close kin, your seat is usually reserved, but when you get to chose, do you sit close or near the back? Do you choose an aisle seat for a quick escape or so you can see the faces of father and bride? Where are your thoughts during the vows?
My mind invariably drifts to my own wedding day and the vows my husband and I made before God, family, and friends. I remember realizing as we made our exit that several people were standing across the back of the church, having given up their seats to others. Most of that day is a blur, but almost thirty-three years later, this one thing stands out in my memory. Nearly everyone we invited was present to celebrate with us.
Tradition was that you chose your seat on either the side of the bride or groom. The chapel where we were married had a large center section and two smaller ones on either side, but most of our guests knew us both well, so the crowd commingled. It’s an honor to be included in any guest list, but with the cost of things today, it’s a special privilege to be invited to a wedding. Whether or not you attend or chose to give a gift to the couple, if you’ve accepted the invitation, your way has been paid.
“When Jesus noticed that all who had come to the dinner were trying to sit in the seats of honor near the head of the table, he gave them this advice:
“When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor. What if someone who is more distinguished than you has also been invited? The host will come and say, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then you will be embarrassed, and you will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table!
Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place for you!’ Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests.
For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.
Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.”
Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!”
Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ But they all began making excuses.
One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’
Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’
Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
The servant returned and told his master what they had said.
His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’
After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’
So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’””
Luke 14:7-24 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.14.7-24.NLT
The Israelites were the first to receive God’s invitation and they were each given as many open “plus one” invitations as they required. They were God’s chosen possession, a people for His glory, but all the way back to Abraham, every nation, tribe, and tongue were included.
”Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”“
Galatians 3:8 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/gal.3.8.NIV
Jesus came to issue a reminder.
”He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things.“
Luke 24:44-48 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/luk.24.44-48.NIV
”Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”“
Matthew 28:18-20 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.28.18-20.NIV
““The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son.
When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!
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!’
But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them.
The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town. And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor. Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’
So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.
But when the king came in to meet the guests, 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.””
Matthew 22:2-14 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.22.2-14.NLT
I am a child of God by faith in His one and only Son, Jesus. Walking in complete surrender, keeping in step with His Spirit, requires me to continually extend His invitation to all I meet. My words and actions matter. As Jesus reminded the religious leaders, their chosen status was not meant to exalt them above anyone. Being chosen by God meant greater responsibility, greater accountability. His kingdom is coming. You and I have as many “plus one” invitations as we require. It is not our place to choose who should or should not be included, who we believe will or will not accept, or lacks the proper attire. God alone is judge and it is at His expense, the same price He paid for me to enter His Kingdom by faith, that the invitation is extended. Urge anyone you find to come, so that His house will be full.
“The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.”
Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.”
Let anyone who is thirsty come.
Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.”
Revelation 22:17 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rev.22.17.NLT
““Is anyone thirsty?
Come and drink— even if you have no money!
Come, take your choice of wine or milk— it’s all free!
Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength?
Why pay for food that does you no good?
Listen to me, and you will eat what is good.
You will enjoy the finest food.
“Come to me with your ears wide open.
Listen, and you will find life.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you.
I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.
Seek the Lord while you can find him.
Call on him now while he is near.
Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong.
Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them.
Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.”
Isaiah 55:1-3, 6-7 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.55.1-7.NLT
“Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to Him.
For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself.
She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.”
For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.
And the angel said to me, “Write this:
Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.”
And he added, “These are true words that come from God.””
Revelation 19:7-9 NLT
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