We are blessed as a people because we are chosen of God. We were once far from God, but as the apostle Paul said, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:13). The apostle Peter expounded our preferred status by saying, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). God called and chose us for a reason—that he may bless us. This truth was revealed by King David in his psalm when he said, “Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple” (Psalm 65:4).
Many desire to be blessed, but blessings seem elusive to them. It is not because blessings are hard to find; rather, it is because they are far from the source of blessings. This distance is the result of their refusal to respond to the call of God. In concluding the Parable of the Wedding Banquet, Jesus said, “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matt. 22:14). In this parable, it was emphasized that many did not deserve the blessings that God prepared for those who were invited. It is because they either refused to come in and partake of the blessings, or they were not wearing wedding clothes. But what are these wedding clothes that God requires from us? The apostle Paul revealed, “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh” (Rom. 13:14).
How can one be clothed in the Lord Jesus Christ? In the Gospel of John, we are told, “ Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (John 1:12-13). In summary, one needs to be born again for him to become a child of God and worthy partaker of God’s blessings. As a child of God, receiving blessings is not a matter of privilege, but a right. In fact, we become co-heirs with Christ ,as expounded by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans. He said, “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Rom. 8:17).
In the Parable of the Wedding Banquet, one of those who responded to the invitation was found not to have wedding clothes. Not only were the blessings withheld from him, but he was tied hand and foot and thrown outside, into the darkness, where there was weeping and gnashing of teeth. To better appreciate why the man was found to be not wearing the right clothes, consider the words of King Solomon in the Book of Ecclesiastes. He said, “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong” (Eccl. 5:1). Whether we will receive favor from the Lord or not depends on the attitude of our hearts. If we approach him and offer the sacrifice of fools, we will certainly be thrown out of his presence and denied the blessings we desire. But what is the sacrifice of fools? In his Psalm, King David said, “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good” (Psalm 14:1).
The sacrifice of fools, then, is unbelief. No one who comes to God with an unbelieving heart will ever be blessed. Let us come together into the House of the Lord to offer our sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving. The House of the Lord is full of God’s blessings and we who responded to his call are chosen to be partakers of these blessings. Indeed, many are called, but few are chosen. Let us keep our preferred position in God, having been clothed in the Lord Jesus Christ. He called us out of darkness and brought us into his wonderful light, that we may enjoy his presence and be blessed. Hallelujah!
