“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.”
– Matthew 22:1-3
Jesus’ sermons are full of life with teachings about the Kingdom of God, and in them, He used two types of parables to describe believers’ lives. The first concerns judgment, like the parables in the book of Matthew dividing the sheep and the goats, or the story of the separation of the wheat and the weeds. As believers, the good news is you don’t have to worry about judgment because Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection have brought us salvation. We are loved, called, and forgiven and can now experience God’s joy in our lives. Speaking of joy, Jesus talks about the joy you experience in the Kingdom of God. One story tells of a wedding feast. Unfortunately, many who were too busy turned down the invitation to this joyous occasion. To illustrate the theme of joy, I found artwork online that depicted the wedding where Jesus turned the water into wine. I noticed that the people were very stoic and somber; you could not recognize the joy of this occasion. I then found a vibrant watercolor painting by artist Herb Mandel. In his painting of the wedding, you could vividly see the happiness expressed on the faces of the guests. Friend, imagine the laughter, colorful interaction, and fellowship between those called to attend the wedding ceremony and festive reception. And most importantly, Jesus was in the middle of the celebration, enjoying it all! Jesus invites us to come into the Kingdom and live a life that is filled with glorious joy! |
Prayer
Jesus, thank You that I am loved, called, and forgiven. Help me to experience joy and celebration in my life!
Reflection
Did you know in the Kingdom of God we can, and should experience joy, fun, laughter, and celebration? How do you like to have fun?
If you’re unable to attend your local church or need some additional weekly inspiration, be sure to tune into Hour of Power every Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. PT on TBN or watch online at hourofpower.org/episode.
One Response
Amen!
I walk my 14 year old Bichon, take photos of flowers, and play my violin in chamber groups when ever I can. These bring me Joy , beacons of light and life in this ever darkening world.
Thank you Jesus!