Devotional - Good News, Bad News

Posted : 30 Jun, 2009 06:25 PM

�For many are called, but few are chosen.� � Matthew 22:14







Bea Arthur . . . David Carradine . . . Dom DeLuise . . . Danny Gans . . . Farrah Fawcett . . . Paul Harvey . . .Michael Jackson . . . Billy Mays . . . Ed McMahon . . . Natasha Richardson . . . Gale Storm . . . Fred Travalena & countless others who had little to no media coverage; different people with different contributions to our society. With all that has transpired in the past couple of months, I wonder if anyone has given any thought to what their lives signify.



Jesus uses the parable of a wedding feast to explain the difference between being called and being chosen. Many guests are invited to this dinner, but few accepted. A second and even third invitation follows, but some still neglect and despise it. Others cast dishonor upon the one who invites, by the self-willed and irreverent way in which they accept his invitation.



The many �called� are the ones who are invited to embrace the Gospel. The �chosen� are those who actually respond to the invitation. These �chosen� individuals are specific people with a specific work to accomplish. I do not proclaim to know why God put each of the fore mentioned individuals here. But I can say this: our purpose is God-given & involves using our talents, gifts and abilities to serve others. When you choose not to fulfill the mandate God impresses upon you, you run the risk of dying with your purpose being left undone.



Whenever the topic of death is before us, the discussion of life after time here on Earth always seems to come knocking. Too many people, though, make the mistake of not letting that thought propel them to action. It's no different than the person who continually makes horrible relationship decisions, only to keep repeating them in the future. At some point, we've got to do things differently than we've always done them, if we ever expect to see change.



Jesus says in Matthew 22:14 that many will hear, but few will believe. There's some bad news and some good news associated with these 8 words:



The Bad News - Just because you heard it doesn't mean you truly believe it. If you expect the sermons you hear and the words you read to make you godly, expect frustration unless you are diligent in meditating on the truth and applying it to your life. Wisdom is not gained by passive absorption. Hearing, understanding & agreeing without application is a self-deceptive dynamic. The word �hear� in the Greek actually means to not only hear, but to comprehend & to put into action. So until you live out truth, you don't really know it at all. Confucius hit the nail on the head when he said "I hear and I forget"; "I see and I remember"; "I do and I understand".



The Good News - Your need for Christ is a legitimate need, not just a perceived one. I could ask if you know Him, but the better question is "Does He know you?" If so, shine your light. If not, the hour is drawing near. Just look around you.



�Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone.� � Pablo Picasso

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