DISTRACTED

“When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, ‘Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.’ Jesus replied: ‘A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘“Come, for everything is now ready.” But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, “I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.” Another said, “I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.” Still another said, “I just got married, so I can’t come.” The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.” “Sir,” the servant said, “what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.” Then the master told his servant, “Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.”’”—Luke 14:15–24 (NIV)

The Word of God can be like a mirror. Some days, the mirror reflects all the amazing ways God has changed you to become more like Him. Other days, it can reveal the hidden things you don’t really want to see. Today’s passage reflects a parable, which holds up a mirror to your heart and reflects where you’re living.

After hearing this parable a few times in my life, I was ready to read past the story when one word hit me straight in my heart: excuses. As I continued reading, the list of excuses given to not dine with the man shocked me even deeper because they were all incredibly valid.

In our walk with Jesus, He reveals and gives us the grace to walk away from the distractions of our old lifestyles that hinder us from communion with Him. What I was surprised to read was how the good things in life can actually pull us from Him, even the good things He’s actually given us! In this story, we see a man who was just married and people who were expanding their businesses—all actions we’d label as “good” and “valid” excuses. Yet it’s those good things that actually distracted them away from the better thing: dining with the King.

In Luke 10, we see an important revelation we can learn from involving Mary and Martha. Martha was busy doing good things to care for her guests. But Mary “sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said” (Luke 10:39 NIV). When Martha complained to Jesus that Mary wasn’t helping, Jesus responded, “Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better” (Luke 10:41–42).

If we’re not careful, we could miss the most beautiful and important part of this parable in Luke 14. The parable isn’t limited to just checking our priorities or challenging us to choose God more. The heart of this message is to see that the King wants to dine with you. More than what we can do for God, we see He desires to commune with us first. He wants to be a Father to His children and a friend to His bride.

May we choose the only thing necessary for today—to sit at the feet of Jesus and simply know and dine with Him. Let this be the only thing worth accomplishing today.

The song “Distracted” sits in the revelation of missing the better thing. It laments what we’ve missed along the way, but it also invites us back to the place where we belong: simply knowing and dining with Jesus. As you listen, allow yourself to be removed from distractions, and enter into the beautiful rest of knowing God and being “known by God” (Galatians 4:9 NIV).

Pause: Am I being distracted from something today that keeps me from communion with God?

Practice: Replace a regular rhythm in your day for sitting at the feet of Jesus and notice what changes in your life.

Pray: Father, I thank You for making me so I can enjoy and have a relationship with You. It’s a joy to be called a son or daughter of God, and there’s truly nothing better than You. Holy Spirit, I invite You to reveal through your Word the ways I may be distracted or pulled from different areas of life where You should be first. I place You back into the center of my life and invite You to come walk with me, think with me, talk with me, and go about my day today in lockstep with You. Thank You for being my friend and Father. Amen.

"Distracted" Lyrics

Verse:

I’ve been distracted

Caught between my two masters

A good thing can take ya without asking

Oh, where do I belong?

It’s pathetic

You pulled me in, it’s kinetic

I said the last time and I meant it

Oh, where do I belong?

Chorus:

Well, I had a place

And a saved date

For a feast that called me home

But I got real good

And doing what I should

But I missed where I belonged