Embracing God's Invitation: A Call to Transformational Love

Devotional

Day 1: God Invites Us to His Joyful Banquet

God is not a distant, stern authority figure, but the gracious host of a great banquet, inviting all to share in His joy and abundance. Jesus describes God as the master preparing an epic party, longing for His house to be filled with guests. This vision challenges us to see God as generous and welcoming, eager for us to experience His presence and delight. The invitation is not just for the impressive or the religious elite, but for anyone willing to accept His call. Is your view of God shaped by this picture of His joyful invitation? [24:51]

Luke 14:16-17 (ESV)
But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’”

Reflection: When you picture God, do you see Him as a joyful host inviting you into His presence, or as a distant authority? How might embracing God’s invitation to His “party” change the way you approach Him today?


Day 2: Excuses Keep Us from God’s Best

Many who are invited to God’s banquet make excuses, letting possessions, work, or relationships take priority over responding to Him. These excuses may seem reasonable on the surface, but they reveal hearts that are not truly committed to God’s invitation. Jesus warns that it’s easy to say “yes” in theory but back out when it’s time to go all in. True participation in God’s kingdom means more than a one-time decision; it’s a lifelong pursuit that requires our whole heart. [28:35]

Luke 14:18-20 (ESV)
But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’

Reflection: What is one “excuse” or distraction that often keeps you from fully responding to God’s invitation? What would it look like to set that aside and say “yes” to Him today?


Day 3: God’s Grace Is for the Broken and Unworthy

The master’s banquet is ultimately filled not by the self-assured or the impressive, but by those who know their need—the poor, the maimed, the blind, and the lame. God’s grace is scandalous, reaching out to those who feel unworthy, broken, or far from Him. If you feel like you have nothing to offer or have been on the outside looking in, know that God is compelling you to come in. The only requirement is to recognize your need and accept His invitation by faith. [36:53]

Luke 14:21-23 (ESV)
So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.’

Reflection: Do you ever feel too broken or unworthy for God’s love? How does knowing that God seeks out and welcomes the broken change your willingness to accept His grace today?


Day 4: Go All In—Loving, Sacrificing, and Following Jesus

Jesus calls His followers to a radical, all-in love for Him—one that surpasses every other allegiance and is willing to sacrifice for His sake. This love is not about loving others less, but about loving Jesus so much that everything else pales in comparison. Going all in means intentionally prioritizing time with Him, sacrificially giving of ourselves, and being willing to carry our own cross. It’s a call to examine where our true affections and commitments lie, and to respond with wholehearted devotion. [44:47]

Luke 14:26-27, 33 (ESV)
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple... So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have been holding back from going “all in” with Jesus? What practical step can you take this week to prioritize your love and sacrifice for Him?


Day 5: Influence Others for Jesus—Be Salt in the World

Jesus says that His followers are to be like salt—preserving, flavoring, and influencing everything they touch. As recipients of God’s invitation and transforming power, we are sent out to bring others in, to share the good news, and to make a difference in our families, workplaces, and communities. Your life has eternal purpose as you point others to the party God is throwing. Don’t underestimate the influence God has given you; use it to invite others into His joy. [54:28]

Matthew 5:13 (ESV)
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.”

Reflection: Who is one person in your sphere of influence that you can intentionally encourage or invite closer to Jesus this week? How can you be “salt” in their life today?

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Invitation Is for the Humble, Not the Impressive
  • God’s party is not for those who think they deserve it, but for those who know they are broken, needy, and unworthy. The ones who recognize their spiritual poverty are the ones who respond to God’s invitation with gratitude and awe. It is only when we see ourselves rightly—empty-handed before God—that we can truly receive his grace and enter his joy. [32:32]
  • 2. Excuses Reveal the True State of Our Hearts The people in Jesus’ story made excuses—work, possessions, relationships—revealing that their hearts were never truly set on God. We, too, can let good things become ultimate things, crowding out our desire for God. If we are looking for an excuse to avoid going all in with Jesus, we will always find one; the real issue is whether our hearts are truly his. [29:35]
  • 3. Going All In Means Loving Jesus Above All Else Jesus calls us to a love so passionate and consuming that every other affection looks small by comparison. This isn’t about loving other things less, but about intentionally growing our love for Christ—through worship, community, and spiritual disciplines. When our love for Jesus is white-hot, it naturally reorders our priorities and shapes every area of our lives. [44:47]
  • 4. Sacrifice Is Planned, Not Accidental Jesus invites us to take up our cross and renounce all for him, but this kind of sacrificial living doesn’t happen by accident. Like a builder or a king, we must sit down and intentionally plan how we will give our time, resources, and energy for God’s kingdom. True sacrifice flows from gratitude for Christ’s ultimate sacrifice and is sustained by deliberate, prayerful commitment. [52:20]
  • 5. Influence Is a Sacred Trust for God’s Mission God has placed each of us in unique spheres of influence—families, workplaces, neighborhoods—not by accident, but for his purpose. We are called to be “salt,” bringing the flavor and preservation of Christ into every environment, compelling others to join the party. Our mission is to use every opportunity to point people to the joy and grace found in Jesus, knowing that our influence can have eternal impact. [54:28]

Read - Discuss - Pray - Remind

Luke 14:12-35 (ESV) — (This was the main text for the sermon. Please read the whole passage together as a group.)

Observation Questions
  1. In Jesus’ parable of the banquet, who are the first people invited, and what excuses do they give for not attending? ([27:41])
  2. According to the story, who does the master end up inviting to the banquet after the original guests refuse? ([31:16])
  3. What does Jesus mean when he says, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life, he cannot be my disciple”? ([40:31])
  4. What does Jesus say about counting the cost before following him? What examples does he use? ([47:33])
Interpretation Questions
  1. What do the excuses of the original guests reveal about their priorities and their hearts toward God’s invitation? ([29:35])
  2. Why does Jesus say that the poor, the maimed, the blind, and the lame are the ones who end up at the banquet? What does this say about who God welcomes? ([32:32])
  3. Jesus uses strong language (hyperbole) about “hating” family and even one’s own life. What is he trying to communicate about the level of commitment he expects from his followers? ([43:15])
  4. Jesus talks about planning and being intentional with sacrifice. Why is it important to “sit down and plan” how we will give our time, resources, and energy for God’s kingdom? ([52:20])
Application Questions
  1. The sermon said it’s possible to say “yes” to God in theory but never truly intend to give him our hearts. Are there areas in your life where you’ve given God a “save the date” but haven’t really shown up? What would it look like to go all in? ([31:16])
  2. The people who end up at God’s party are those who know they are broken and needy. Do you find it hard to admit your need for God? How does this affect your relationship with him? ([32:32])
  3. Jesus calls us to love him so much that every other love looks small by comparison. What is one thing in your life that sometimes competes with your love for Jesus? How can you intentionally grow your love for him this week? ([44:47])
  4. Sacrifice is planned, not accidental. Have you ever intentionally planned how you will use your time, money, or energy for God’s purposes? What is one step you could take this month to be more intentional? ([52:20])
  5. God has given each of us influence in different places—family, work, neighborhood. Who is one person you could “invite to the party” by sharing God’s love or your story with them? ([54:28])
  6. The sermon challenged us to examine if we are giving Jesus our “scraps” or our best. In what area of your life do you feel you are holding back from God? What would it look like to surrender that area to him? ([50:43])
  7. Jesus went all in for us first. How does remembering his sacrifice motivate you to live differently this week? ([49:19])

  8. Upcoming Events and Reminders 
    • Beach Baptisms: September 21 @ 2pm at Nimitz Beach. Go HERE to sign-up and for more info.
    • All-Harbor Prayer and Praise Night: September 27 // 7pm // Harbor Honolulu

Sermon Clips

``God is absolutely throwing a party. It's not a small party, a large party where many are invited. He sent out a save the date. He sent out this invitation. Many have responded and he's been preparing this party for a while. But when the invitation is finally ready, when the food is finally ready, he sends his servant back out to say, let's go. It's time to party. The party is happening right now. [00:25:28] (27 seconds)  #GodsEpicInvitation

Jesus is saying that the only way to be at God's party is to first see ourselves rightly, to see that nothing earns us a seat at the table. God isn't combing this earth looking for impressive people, he's looking for people who will accept his invitation. [00:34:47] (16 seconds)  #GraceForTheBroken

When you accept God's invitation, we call that salvation. It's like a rebirth, like being born again. It's new life with God. And it's all made possible by the life, the death, the resurrection of Jesus. Without Jesus, we have no way into the party. But with Jesus, we have full access into God's party. [00:37:37] (23 seconds)  #TransformedByGrace

He says, take up your cross, take, to willingly take it. He's not forcing it on us. He wants us to make a willing decision to sacrifice in his name. And he says, take your own cross. Your sacrifice might look different from someone else's. How you go all in pursuing Jesus and living a sacrificial life in his service is going to be unique. Don't compare your cross with other people's cross, but just ask God, what is the cross you're calling me to pick up? How are you calling me to sacrifice for you in this world? [00:51:04] (31 seconds)  #SacrificialLiving

Salt does all kinds of things. It preserves, purifies, flavors, corrodes. No matter what it touches, it changes that thing. It influences it. And that's how Jesus wants us to live. The third way we experience God's transforming power is that we go all in with our influence. God has given you your family, your friends, your neighborhood, your workplace. God has given you spheres of influence in your life. And he said, go and influence those places for Jesus. [00:54:04] (34 seconds)  #MissionInEveryRole

Your job is not a dead-end job. Your job is your mission field. Your family is not hopeless. Your family has you in it. God has given us incredible, eternal purpose to go out and tell others that there's a party that they're invited into to compel them to come in. We can literally influence people into God's kingdom as we speak to them about Jesus, as we show them the love of Jesus. [00:54:53] (33 seconds)  #InfluenceForTheKingdom

We experience God's transforming power as we influence others to come into his party. Listen, guys, this is what it looks like to go all in with Jesus. We go all in loving him, sacrificing for him, influencing others for him. But we do it because he went all in first with us. He gave us his whole life. He loved us to death, this meal that we're about to take. And because he gave his all to us, when we are filled up with his grace and mercy, it spills out into us going all in with him. And we experience the transforming power so that when he returns to bring us into his party forever, we're ready. [00:55:27] (41 seconds)  #AllInBecauseHeWas

God says he's throwing a party for us and he wants us to be ready. He says, those who are ready, those who are experiencing my transforming power by going all in with me, they will be ready when the day comes. And so may we not be like the people who are giving our hearts to other things, but may we be a people who are going all in with Jesus because he went all in with us. [00:58:18] (24 seconds)  #ReadyForGodsParty

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