Generous Invitations
Scripture Reading — Luke 14:15-24
“A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests.”
—Luke 14:16
A Christian woman invited a non-Christian neighbor to a Bible study at her church. She was nervous about asking her and was sure the neighbor would say no. But she prayed for the courage from God and asked anyway.
When her neighbor heard the invitation, she was about to say no, but something inside her said, “I can just go once, and if I don’t like it, I won’t go again.” It turned out that she enjoyed the friendship of the people there and learned a great deal from the Bible lessons. What’s more, she and her husband later became Christians!
The phrase “You never know until you ask” applies to inviting people into a relationship with the living God. Let’s not assume people will get there without an invitation.
The leaders of Reformed churches in the 1600s summarized Scripture when they said in the Canons of Dort, “In order that people may be brought to faith, God mercifully sends messengers of this very joyful message … For grace is bestowed through admonitions, and the more readily we perform our duty, the more lustrous the benefit of God working in us usually is, and the better that work advances.”
Let’s look for opportunities to invite our neighbors and friends to know Jesus. And let’s watch the Holy Spirit work as we pray and invite!
Lord, I praise you for your salvation and the fellowship of your people. Show me who I can pray for and invite to know you. Amen.
About the author — Daryl DeKlerk
Daryl DeKlerk pastors a church in Jarvis, Ontario. He is thankful for a sabbatical that enabled him to study the theme of Grace-filled Christian Witness. Daryl and his wife have three young children who keep them on their toes and on their knees in prayer.
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