Extending the Table - Engage the Word

5 Day Devotional - Extending the Table

By Pastor Brad Riley

Extending the Table - Matthew 22

Day 1: The Invitation to God's Table

Devotional

Have you ever received an invitation that made you feel special? Perhaps it was to a wedding, a graduation, or a milestone birthday celebration. There's something powerful about being invited - it says, "I want you there. You matter to me." In Matthew 22, Jesus tells a parable about a king who prepared a wedding feast for his son. This wasn't just any meal - it was a celebration of the highest order. The king sent out invitations, but remarkably, the invited guests refused to come. Some were indifferent, others were hostile, but all rejected the generous invitation. This parable reveals God's heart. He has prepared a magnificent feast - His kingdom - and He's inviting everyone to come. Not just the religious elite, not just those who have it all together, but everyone. The good news of the gospel is that God wants you at His table. In biblical times, sharing a meal was significant. It wasn't just about food; it was about relationship. When you ate with someone, you were declaring friendship and acceptance. Jesus frequently used the imagery of feasts and meals to describe God's kingdom because He wanted us to understand that God desires close relationship with us. Today, consider the incredible truth that the Creator of the universe has invited you to His table. You don't have to earn your place; the invitation has already been extended. All you need to do is accept.

Bible Verse

"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son." - Matthew 22:2

Reflection Question

Who in your life might be waiting for an invitation to experience God's love and community? What holds you back from extending that invitation?

Quote

In the context of God's word, in the context of biblical times, to eat together meant that you were very close friends. And if you ate with an enemy, it means now you are friends.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for inviting me to your table. Help me to fully appreciate the privilege of being in relationship with you. Give me courage to extend your invitation to others who need to experience your love. Amen.

Day 2: An Invitation for Everyone

Devotional

We often create invisible boundaries around our lives, don't we? We have our inner circle, our acquaintances, and then those we keep at a distance. It's human nature to categorize people based on similarities, comfort levels, and perceived worthiness. But God's invitation policy looks radically different. In the parable of the wedding feast, after the initial invitees rejected the king's offer, he instructed his servants: "Go out into the streets and gather together all they found, both evil and good." This wasn't a selective process - it was a wide-open invitation. This challenges our tendency to only welcome those we think will fit in or those who meet certain standards. God's table has room for everyone who will come - regardless of background, appearance, status, or past mistakes. The beauty of God's kingdom is its inclusivity. No one is too far gone, too different, or too broken to be welcomed. The invitation extends to corporate executives and homeless individuals, to those with spotless records and those with checkered pasts, to the religious and the skeptical. This doesn't mean God affirms everything about us - as we'll explore later this week, transformation is part of the journey. But it does mean the starting point is the same for everyone: a gracious invitation to come as you are. Today, let this truth reshape how you see others. Everyone you encounter is someone God wants at His table.

Bible Verse

"So those slaves went out into the streets and gathered together all they found both evil and good." - Matthew 22:10

Reflection Question

How might your attitude toward others change if you truly believed God wants everyone at His table? Is there someone you've been hesitant to invite into your faith community?

Quote

The invitation to bring people into the kingdom of God is for everyone, without exception.

Prayer

Lord, forgive me for the times I've been selective about who I think belongs in your family. Open my eyes to see others as you see them - as invited guests to your table. Help me to extend your welcome to everyone I meet. Amen.

Day 3: Distractions That Keep Us From the Table

Devotional

Life is full of distractions, isn't it? Our days are packed with responsibilities, commitments, and pursuits that demand our attention. In the parable of the wedding feast, Jesus highlights this reality when He describes how the invited guests responded: "They paid no attention and went on their way, one to his own farm, another to his business." Notice that what kept these people from accepting the king's invitation wasn't necessarily evil. Farms and businesses are good things. But these good things became ultimate things that prevented them from responding to something far better. The same happens in our lives today. What keeps people from accepting God's invitation isn't always outright rejection or rebellion. Often, it's simply distraction with otherwise good things - careers, family responsibilities, hobbies, or other commitments that consume our time and energy. Even as believers, we can become so preoccupied with the demands of daily life that we neglect our place at God's table. We miss out on the feast He has prepared because we're too busy tending to our farms and businesses. This isn't about feeling guilty for having responsibilities. Rather, it's about recognizing when good things have displaced the best thing - relationship with God and participation in His kingdom purposes. Today, consider what might be distracting you from fully accepting God's invitation to deeper relationship and service in His kingdom.

Bible Verse

"They paid no attention and they went on their way. One to his own farm, one to his own business." - Matthew 22:5

Reflection Question

What good things in your life might be keeping you from fully engaging with God's invitation? How can you reorder your priorities to put God's kingdom first?

Quote

The things that keep people from accepting the invitation are not always bad.

Prayer

Father, help me recognize when good things become distractions from the best thing - knowing You and participating in Your kingdom work. Give me wisdom to order my life according to Your priorities, not just the urgent demands of each day. Amen.

Day 4: Being the Voice of Invitation

Devotional

Have you ever considered that you might be the only invitation to God's table that someone receives? In the parable of the wedding feast, the king sent his servants to extend the invitation. They were his voice, his representatives. Today, we are God's voice of invitation in our world. There's a sobering reality here: God has chosen to work through us to extend His invitation to others. There is no backup plan. As the sermon points out, "God's not going to take out an ad in the Wall Street Journal... There is no other plan but our voice." This is both a tremendous privilege and a weighty responsibility. The people in our lives - our family members, neighbors, coworkers, classmates, and friends - may never hear about God's love and invitation unless we tell them. Research consistently shows that about 80% of people first attend church because someone personally invited them. A simple invitation can be the beginning of a life-changing journey for someone you know. Of course, extending this invitation can feel intimidating. We worry about rejection, awkwardness, or not having all the answers. But remember, we're not responsible for the response - only for faithfully extending the invitation. Today, ask God to help you see the people in your life who need to hear about His invitation. Then, take a step of faith and be His voice to someone who needs to know they're invited to the feast.

Bible Verse

"Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." - Revelation 19:9

Reflection Question

Who has God placed in your life that needs to hear about His invitation? What specific step can you take this week to be God's voice of invitation to that person?

Quote

The only way they'll ever hear that invitation is to recognize that we're the voice of the invitation.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for entrusting me with the privilege of being Your voice in this world. Give me courage to extend Your invitation to those around me. Help me overcome my fears and hesitations, remembering that You are working through my simple invitation. Amen.

Day 5: Welcomed to Be Transformed

Devotional

One of the most beautiful aspects of God's invitation is that He welcomes us exactly as we are - with all our flaws, wounds, and baggage. There's no need to clean ourselves up before coming to His table. The invitation is extended to us in our current state. But the story doesn't end there. In the parable of the wedding feast, there's a curious detail about a guest who came without proper wedding clothes. This wasn't about fashion or dress codes - it represented something deeper. The wedding garment symbolized a willingness to be transformed by the king's hospitality. God welcomes us as we are, but He loves us too much to leave us that way. When we accept His invitation, we're saying yes not just to a relationship but to a journey of transformation. We're agreeing to let Him gradually change us from the inside out. This transformation isn't about striving to earn God's approval. Rather, it's about yielding to His work in our lives. As today's quote reminds us, "God, through the power of His Holy Spirit, can take us in as we are and transform us into who he wants us to be." This process happens "a little bit at a time over our whole lifetime," and it's the work of God's grace in us. Our part is simply to remain at the table, open to His transforming love. Today, celebrate both realities: you are fully welcomed as you are, and you are invited into a lifetime of beautiful transformation.

Bible Verse

"The kingdom of heaven may compare to a king who gave a wedding feast to his son." - Matthew 22:1-14

Reflection Question

In what areas of your life are you currently experiencing God's transforming work? How can you be more intentionally open to His transformation?

Quote

The invitation isn't to just come as we are and stay as we are. The invitation of God is to come to my table but be transformed.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for welcoming me just as I am. I'm grateful that you don't leave me that way, but lovingly transform me through your Spirit. Help me to yield to your work in my life, trusting that your transformation is always for my good and your glory. Amen.