When They Say No, Keep Setting The Table

The Kingdom of God is built on invitations. In Luke 14, Jesus shares the parable of a great banquet where many guests are invited but make excuses and choose not to come. Yet the master never cancels the feast; he expands the invitation because there is still room at his table.

Throughout Scripture, Jesus continually invites people into relationship with Him. The invitation is more than attending a gathering; it is an invitation to eternity, the love of God, and the fullness of His plans.

Many of us know what it feels like to extend an invitation only to be rejected. Jesus did too. Yet His response was never to stop inviting others. Instead, He kept setting the table. As followers of Christ, our responsibility is to consistently extend the invitation; not control the response.

The Gospel begins with an invitation, and we are called to become people who are faithfully inviting others to church, to a meal, to friendship, and ultimately to the table of the Lord. Every invitation has the potential to point someone toward forgiveness, grace, redemption, healing, freedom, purpose, and eternal life in Christ.

If someone says no, don't stop asking. Keep setting the table. Keep loving. Keep praying. Keep welcoming. Jesus never stopped extending His invitation, and neither should we.
The question isn't simply whether you've invited someone lately. The first question is: Have you accepted Christ's invitation? And if you have, who is God calling you to invite next to the table?