Banquet Invitation!

For Thursday, July 3, 2025:

Luke 14:18a NLT: “But those invited to the banquet all began making excuses.”

Jesus told this parable of a man who threw a huge banquet for everyone he knew – friends, relatives, business acquaintances. This event was important to the man, but to his friends, apparently not so much. They began concocting excuses explaining why they couldn’t attend. “I just bought a new field and have to inspect it.” “I’m buying new oxen and have to check them out.” “I just got married! Duh!” That may be the only reasonable explanation for missing the banquet!

The disappointed man told his helper, “Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.” These are people who could really use a good meal! When they were seated, empty chairs still remained. “Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.” The man would not be denied his celebratory banquet! He concludes, “None of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.” The first will be last.

Jesus’ parable points to the heavenly banquet in the Kingdom of God. Believers in the church are the bride of Christ, and there will be a great wedding feast when everything comes together in God’s time. When you’re invited to that banquet, don’t be wishy-washy! Immediately is the best time to confirm your reservation!

God gives plenty of second chances, but not this time. When we see who’s hosting the event, our answer should be an instantaneous, ‘YES!’

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

High Priest!

For Wednesday, July 2, 2025:

Hebrews 5:1 NLT: “Every high priest is a man chosen to represent other people in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God and offers sacrifices for their sins.”

The high priest stood between God and the Hebrew people. Since God called him, Jews believed their priest possessed holy authority. They could confess sins to their priest and present gifts of atonement. The gifts were actually for God.

On the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, the priest would symbolically place the sins of the people onto the back of a goat, and shoo the goat into the wilderness, thereby separating the populace from their sins. That’s where we get the term “scapegoat.”

Jesus was endowed with that “high priest authority” by God. “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” But Jesus was eventually crucified and ascended back to the Father. So, where does that leave us?

When Jesus died on the cross, the curtain in the Holy of Holies was torn from top to bottom, destroying the separation between God and mankind. God did the tearing. Believers no longer need or desire a high priest. If we need to pray to the Lord, we can pray directly to him. If we need to confess and repent, we can speak with the Almighty. We pray to God “in Jesus’ name,” since Jesus is now our intercessor, the one who opened the gateway, clearing the path between God and mankind.

Unlike his predecessors, our high priest was perfect!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Keep the Faith!

For Tuesday, July 1, 2025:

Hebrews 4:14 NLT: “So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.”

Jesus walked on the earth alongside mankind. He faced the same trials and temptations we all face, yet he did not sin. He purposely preceded us into heaven to advocate for mankind. When Jesus died on the cross, our sins were not just forgiven, but were permanently removed from our record in the Book of Life. There won’t be any scratch-outs or eraser marks; just blank white space, as if our sin never happened.

In the 1960s, New York Congressman Adam Clayton Powell chanted, “Keep the faith, baby!” as he spoke against prejudice and discrimination. As Christians, we could adopt his slogan as we focus our eyes on the hereafter. Our assignment is to place Jesus at the top of earth’s pecking order, and to never slack in what we believe.

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. He calls us to heaven. We will know the way if we follow him. Everything he ever said has turned out to be true, and his Father maintains a place of everlasting peace. God’s desire is that all would repent and return. He doesn’t want to lose a single soul!

So keep the faith, baby! Hold firmly to what we believe, and place Jesus at the top of today’s agenda. He has already prepared a place for you in the next life. Never forget that believers already have a reservation in the hereafter. Heaven is expecting you!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship