Invitations are wonderful. We can be invited to all sorts of things. We may be invited to a meal with friends. We may be invited to a grand social occasion, or we may be invited to be the president of a group we belong to.
I am not prone to placing a fairy tale or story as the main part of a sermon. Today, though, I want to think about Cinderella. The story of Cinderella involves an invitation to a ball that is being held by a prince. The problem is that her stepmother, who in the story is particularly horrible, will not let Cinderella go to the ball because she wants her to do chores.
This is a bit like the background to the reading from the book of Exodus (19:2-9a) this morning. The people who had been known as God’s people had suffered under slavery in Egypt. This was until God called Moses and asked him to help lead the people out of Egypt. In the reading today, the people had left Egypt. Moses was talking to God, and as he did so, God promised not only freedom but described their new life. It was one that would be filled with opportunity not only to be God’s chosen people but also to be people who were able to be so special to God that He would see them as a holy nation and a royal priesthood. From slavery to being royalty. What a gift, what an invitation.
Back to Cinderella. She waited and watched as her stepsisters, who will forever be known as the ugly sisters, got ready for the ball. She was desperate to join them. The invitation had included her, but she wasn’t allowed.
In the rest of the Old Testament we read that the people had enjoyed a special relationship with God, but they had turned away. This had happened time and time again. In the end, God came amongst them as Jesus. This meant that there was now a new way of being. Through His death and resurrection, all people were invited into a relationship with God. In the reading from Romans (5:1-8), Paul was explaining to the people that they were now able to stand in the grace of God. That means that they could enjoy a relationship with God, one that was so close they could share in the glory of God. This is an invitation to us all. What an amazing invitation. It is free to us all. It is better than any ball. It is forever.
The passage is written in the typical way of Paul. He makes a statement and then convinces you. As you read through this letter, you can see that Paul always follows an argument through. This is why he builds up the different characteristics that help lead to hope and the pouring of God’s love into us. This is really exciting. He wrote, ‘we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.’
After this comes my favourite Bible verse. It is a verse that, to me, explains everything that God has done for us, the invitation that He gives. ‘But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.’ Not knowing how we would react, Jesus died for us all. This is our invitation. All we need to do is follow Him, accept His love, and tell others about the difference He has made in our lives.
Back to poor Cinderella. We left her sad, wanting to go to the ball but having constant chores to do. Suddenly a fairy godmother arrives, who insists that Cinderella will go to the ball. Immediately the chores are all done. Cinderella has a beautiful dress and carriage. She is transformed, and she goes to the ball. When she arrives, people are jealous of this mysterious girl. The prince dances with her, and everything is lovely.
In the reading from the Gospel according to Matthew (9:35-10:8), Jesus was described as preaching and healing. As He did this, He was proclaiming that something new was happening. People were able to see God at work, and they had an invitation to follow Him. Jesus picked His main disciples. These men were told what they had to do. They were to do as they had seen Jesus do.
It is the same for us as followers today. We are to do what we are told Jesus did. We find out what this was as we read our Bibles. Not just this, but we are to be like Jesus to others, to love as He loves. This is unconditional. People are accepted, loved, and welcomed. We are back to invitation. In the same way that we are invited to turn to God, to know Him, to love Him, to follow Him, and to be like Him, so we are to do the same for others.
Jesus reminded His disciples that, as they had received a free invitation, they were to offer others the same. This wasn’t a transaction; it was a free gift. The invitation to know God is free. In the same way as He had freed His people from slavery, so He wants us all to be free. Free to enjoy a relationship with Him.
We can’t leave Cinderella. Sadly there was a condition on her lovely carriage and clothes. It was that they would be gone by midnight. As she ran away, the prince grabbed her shoe and the next day, by a process of elimination, Cinderella was discovered to be the mystery girl. After this they all lived happily ever after.
We have a free invitation. It is an invitation to eternity. This invitation will involve us following God now, and even when things are tough we will be able to know that He is with us. He loves us, and all He asks of us is that we will love Him as well. We have that invitation. We need to pass it on.
After all, as it said in the Psalm,
‘.. the Lord is gracious; his steadfast love is everlasting, and his faithfulness endures from generation to generation.’ AMEN
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