April 16 2025

Wednesday April 16

“And Still There is Room”

Luke 14:15-24

15 Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, "Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!" 16 Then He said to him, "A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, 17 and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, 'Come, for all things are now ready.' 18 But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.' 19 And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.' 20 Still another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' 21 So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.' 22 And the servant said, 'Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.' 23 Then the master said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.' "

Imagine sitting at a Pharisee’s table with Jesus when one of the guests exclaims, “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!” Jesus responds with a parable: A man prepares a great supper and invites many guests. When the time comes, he sends his servant to say, “Come, for all things are now ready.” But the invited guests make excuses. One bought land and needs to see it, another bought oxen and must test them, another just got married and can’t come. Angered, the host tells his servant to go into the streets and lanes, bringing in the poor, maimed, lame, and blind. Still, there’s room, so he sends the servant to the highways and hedges to compel others to come, declaring that none of the original invitees will taste his supper.

This parable is a vivid picture of God’s invitation to His kingdom, a feast of grace, salvation, and eternal joy. The host represents God, the supper is the gospel, and the servant is like Jesus or His messengers, calling us to come. The first invitees, likely representing the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, had every reason to attend. They’d already accepted the invitation, yet when the time came, they prioritized worldly concerns, their property, work, and family over the feast. Their excuses weren’t just polite refusals; they were insults to the host, revealing hearts more devoted to temporary things than to God’s eternal offer.

But God’s grace doesn’t stop with rejection. The host opens his table to the outcasts, the poor, the broken, those society overlooks. When there’s still room, he extends the invitation further, to the highways and hedges, symbolizing the Gentiles and all who seem far from God. This shows the boundless reach of the gospel: no one is too lowly, too distant, or too unworthy to be invited. Notice the host’s urgency, “go out quickly,” “compel them to come”. It reflects God’s heart to fill His house with people who will accept His gift of salvation, freely offered through Jesus’ sacrifice.

Yet, the parable ends with a sobering warning: those who made excuses were shut out. God’s invitation is open, but it’s not indefinite. Saying “later” to Jesus risks missing out entirely. The excuses in the story, land, oxen, marriage, weren’t bad things, but they became idols when they took precedence over God. Today, we might make similar excuses: “I’m too busy with work,” “I’ll follow Jesus when life slows down,” or “I have other priorities.” This parable should challenge us to examine our hearts. What’s keeping us from fully embracing God’s call? Are we settling for good things at the cost of the best, God’s eternal kingdom?

The beauty of this story is the feast itself. God’s kingdom isn’t a duty; it’s a celebration! Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross, so all things are now ready. On the cross, Jesus declared, “It is finished”. Salvation is complete! The table is set, and there’s room for you. The question is: Will you come? And will you, like the servant, invite others to this feast, sharing the gospel with urgency and love?

Today’s Challenge for us: Identify one “excuse” or distraction that is keeping you from fully responding to God’s call. Maybe a busy schedule, a worldly priority, or fear of commitment. Pray for strength to put Jesus first and take one step toward deeper devotion, like setting aside time for prayer or studying His Word. Also be willing to invite someone in your life who seems far from God, maybe a coworker, neighbor, or friend. Pray for them, then find a way to share God’s invitation, whether through a kind word, an act of service, or a conversation about Jesus. Be the servant who compels others to come to the feast knowing there is still room.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for inviting us to Your kingdom’s feast. Forgive us for the excuses we make. Fill us with Your Spirit to prioritize You above all and to share Your invitation with others. May Your house be filled, and may we rejoice at Your table forever. Amen.

God bless!