Quote from Forum Archives on December 27, 2016, 3:41 pm

Posted by: balderman <balderman@...>

Luke 14:12 – 24 "He said also to the man who had invited him, "When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just." When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, "Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!" 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.' 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.' 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. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'"

Advice for a great 2017

1.      Be GENEROUS

a.       Don't do things for others expecting repayment

b.      Don't get and anticipate you have to give

                                                  i.      Only Sheldon calculates there is a "Quid Pro Quo" in gift giving

                                                ii.      Give expecting no return

                                              iii.      Receive with humility and thankfulness

1.      God gives freely

2.      Receive

a.       You are not able to repay

2.      SEEK GOD'S BEST

a.       Know when you are blessed

                                                  i.      We often are much better off than we think

                                                ii.      We often turn away from the great things God is trying to give us

                                              iii.      Find the joy of a humble, submitted life given freely to God

3.      STOP MAKING EXCUSES

a.       We make excuses for not following God and/or rejecting God's gifts

                                                  i.      Too young, too old

                                                ii.      Too busy

                                              iii.      Too popular

                                              iv.      Too political

                                                v.      Too ………

b.      There are more than enough hurting people who will gladly receive the blessing you are turning away

                                                  i.      Even so, the offer remains open for you as long as you draw breathe

c.       You will miss the best part of life

You will miss the best part of eternity

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