So, what’s your testimony, what has God done for you lately? Who will be the first? Did God provide food in your hour of need? Did He provide a way of escape when you were tempted? Were you vindicated after being accused of something you weren’t guilty? Did God set you free from smoking, from drinking, from gambling, from being a womanizer? And the list goes on. There’s no need to feel ashamed. In stead, you should be thankful and joyful in telling your story of how God ransomed and set you free.

He had been so steeped in sin; well, that’s what he thought of himself and his friends concur. He could never change. The worldly lifestyle was his thrill and giving it up was unimaginable. The girls, the drinks, parties and more; that was his life. After all, he was young and it was his life to live. But God had other plans! God choose a new direction for his life-a direction that led to a total change of both the inner and outer man.

I have been told that the dying, especially those who were injured by gunshot, always ask for water when death was drawing near. It would seem that this thirst was a natural occurrence before death comes and the water was needed to wet the tongue which clings to the jaws. Whatever is the cause for this thirst before death, it can also be viewed in a spiritual sense.

But what exactly was finished? Do you think it was just the insults, the beatings, the slaps to and spit in His face, the blood draining from His side as death approach, and His life on Earth ended? Yes, those were finished; but there’s more. Jesus came on a mission to reveal His Father to us; to bridge the gap between God and man; to bring an end to the daily sacrifice; and to break the power of sin over our lives! Yes, His mission on Earth was finished! But my mind tells me that His words were also a warning to Satan telling the wicked rascal that he was finished!

The King came in before the actual wedding to see if all was ready for the ceremony to begin. That’s when he saw the man unfittingly dressed. This is a royal wedding and all under the King’s control must be in order. What’s with this wedding garment – why was it so important?

Many, whom others thought would not make it, will be saved. They would have sincerely prayed the Publican’s prayer, believed like the Centurion, and reached out to Jesus like the thief on the cross. They touched the hem of His garment and were made whole. They accepted the wedding garment of Jesus’ righteousness so their sins were all covered. Yes, though stained by the blight of sin, they made sure that a corresponding credit of pardon was written beside their deeds. They humbled themselves and allowed Jesus to work His transforming power in their lives.