June 15, 2026
Rejecting God - Part 1
Luke 14:15
06/15/2026
15 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!'' (ESV)
This week the prayer of the Church is for God to grant us
faith. We pray for God to work in us fear and love of His name
because we, in our sin, do not long for His blessings, but turn
our backs on His great love.
O Lord, since You never fail to help and govern those
whom You nurture in Your steadfast fear and love, work
in us a perpetual fear and love of Your holy name;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns
with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Everyone eventually ponders the question, ``What happens
when we die?'' Each religion, except Christianity, seeks to
bring the comfort of a great reward, either through hard work or
human philosophy. Christians, however, teach that our sins are
forgiven for the sake of the suffering, death, and resurrection
of Jesus. We are assured of eternal life because faith trusts in
Him, trusts in God's grace, love, and mercy.
Jesus was at a banquet in the home of a ruler of the
Pharisees speaking of the kingdom of heaven. ``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!'''
This is most certainly true. However, in the parable of the
Great Banquet which we will review this week, we will consider
why people do not desire to accept God's gift of salvation, why
they reject the invitation to eat bread in the kingdom of God.
May our Lord grant us faith to trust in Him, that we may
know the joy of eternal life. Amen.