Many are called, few are chosen
Matthew 22:1-14
Vs 14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
A young boy once accompanied his mother to a Good Friday service. The pastor’s sermon on the crucifixion of Christ was so moving that the boy began to weep. Soon he began to cry aloud. His mother became so embarrassed that she whispered to him, "Don't take it so seriously." We are in the Lenten Season. How many of us take the cross of Christ seriously?
The Bible portion for this devotion is Matthew 22:1-14, The Parable of the Wedding Banquet. The devotion focuses on Matthew 22: verse 14” For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
The story is simple. A marriage has been arranged for the king’s son, and the invitations were sent out several times. However, those invited, honored by the invitation, declined to attend the wedding. In the story the king sent out his servants to all types of people. It’s the same with our invitation. It doesn’t matter what our background is, what talents we do or do not have, what knowledge we have, what our circumstances are. The thing that determines whether or not we are chosen is how we respond to the calling when we sense God’s invitation in our heart. This parable is an analogy of what we have been invited to. An invitation to something more than a life lived serving only ourselves. An invitation to live a life together with Christ, serving God and experiencing the fulfillment that brings to life. An invitation to be Jesus’ disciples, to follow in His footsteps. And ultimately, an invitation to spend eternity with Him! To be chosen is to accept the invitation and to say “Yes!” to the calling and then to follow it up with being a faithful disciple life. God calls us, but those who are chosen are those who wholeheartedly accept the invitation.
‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ Matthew 22:12. Why are you not wearing a wedding garment, even though one was provided for you? The proper wedding garment of a true believer is God-imputed righteousness, without which no one can enter or live in the kingdom. Unless a person’s righteousness exceeds the hypocritical self-righteousness that typified the scribes and Pharisees, he “shall not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:20). Matthew 13:23 describes the group we must be in to be chosen: “But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” This bearing of fruit is the requirement of being chosen, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so, you will be My disciples” (John 15:1”8). The Lord asked Peter one question three times, we read in John 21 “Do you love Me? “Do you love Me more than these?” You will follow what you love. You will serve what you love. You will sacrifice for what you love, who you love. That’s that high love – the noblest, purest, best; the love of the will.
PRAYER
Our Loving Lord, we ask that You would open our ears to listen to your calling. Help us live a fruitful life Amen!
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
When God calls you to be a servant, don't stoop to be a king.
Rajan George, Carmel Mar Thoma Church
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church
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