COME AND DINE

This powerful message centers on one of the most profound invitations in Scripture—the call to 'come' found in Luke 14. We're reminded that God has prepared a great banquet, not of natural food, but of salvation, grace, mercy, love, and eternal life. The invitation is extended to all who will accept it, yet we see in the parable how people made excuses—buying land, inspecting oxen, getting married—placing their priorities before God. The spiritual lesson here cuts deep: it's not that these activities were wrong in themselves, but that they were chosen over fellowship with God. How often do we do the same? We let work, entertainment, relationships, or even good things crowd out prayer time, worship, and our relationship with Jesus. The message challenges us to examine what we're putting before God and reminds us that Jesus bore our sins, our grief, our pain—taking stripes on His back without saying a mumbling word—all so we could accept this invitation. The urgency is real: Christ is coming at an hour we don't expect, and we must be ready now, not getting ready then. This isn't about perfection but about priority—laying aside every weight, loving our neighbors, and accepting the invitation to drink from the fountain of life while it's still extended.