Chapter 22 THE WEDDING FEAST
When I was a kid this parable really freaked me out. There was a person who showed up at the wedding feast without a wedding garment although proper dress was provided for everyone.
The host asked him why he wasn’t dressed properly. The poor person was just kind of dazed and confused and really didn’t know why he didn’t have the right cloths on. Instead of just gently guiding him to the clothes closet, the king commands his soldiers to “Bind him hand and foot and cst him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Yikes.
I always identified with the poor slob who seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, never fit in, and somehow didn’t have a clue what to do next. If that wasn’t bad enough, I was afraid God would lower the boom on me, throw me into the outer darkness, where I would be weeping and gnashing my teeth forever.
I am blessed to get a new view from NTI.
The Wedding Feast described in NTI is a beautiful metaphor for the spiritual journey. “V12 The journey itself, or what seems to happen along its way, matters not.” 14 It is upon arriving that they will realize what they have been invited to attend. 15 Upon that realization, all else will fall away. (11-14) No one who comes will be turned away…
And most important 3 “When God looks at you, God sees you as spotless and ready for the joining.” (You might also want to read Galatians 3(6-9)).
If you forget, think you have lost your way (15-22) “12-13 When you have forgotten you are on the journey, there will seem to be many things that need your attention. I am in those things too, whether you see Me or not, so do them in peace.”
Chapter 23 Theme “Being in the world, but not of it.” (This is not a direct Biblical quote. It is a squeezing together of some ideas expressed in Jn 17; 11-19 in the Old New Testament).
We are encouraged not to ignore or be afraid of the world (1-4) 1-5.
It is suggesting here that we play our roles in life, but not to become too attached to them and remember these roles are not who you are.
For instance, some roles in my life, husband, grandfather, minister, writer, photographer---they are not who I am. I can enjoy all these roles and play them, and give the “purpose of heaven.”
This is our choice (5-12) 3-4 All things within the world serve one of two purposes: They either distract you from Heaven and tie you to the world, or they free you from the world and bring you closer to the awareness of Heaven.”
6 Follow My guidance within the world. I will lead you truly. Give me your confusion ands ask for clarity, Clarity will be given.
(23,24) 5-7 When you notice guilt in you heart or fear in your mind, focus first on letting to of those feelings. To let go of them tis to let go of the world, for the world is a world of guilt and fear.
When the guilt and fear have passed, give the design to Me. In peace, you shall know what to do.”
You choose what purpose and meaning you give the events in your life. You can give everything you experience the meaning and purpose of healing if you choose.
(15-25) is a beautiful summary of this whole thing
And there is a great one-liner on p. 52 v4 near the top of the page:
“When you are tried of loss, lack, and suffering, you will give yourself to Me to be made complete.”
That is very cool.
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