Rsvp Required

Rsvp Required

Bernice

Read: Acts 25:23; 26:1-30

The woman walked slowly away from the banquet hall in disbelief. How could the doorman refuse to let her into the reception? She was a well-known musician, and everyone there already recognized her even before she had sung at the wedding an hour earlier. But because her name wasn’t on the guest list, she had been turned away. Now she would miss the dinner and dance, and all because she had not sent in her RSVP.

The woman in today’s Bible passages also neglected to respond to an invitation. When Bernice and her husband visited the Roman governor Felix, they were very curious about his controversial prisoner. They listened as Paul shared his testimony in detail and proclaimed Jesus’ resurrection. As a Jew, Bernice understood Paul’s references to the promised Messiah, but apparently she refused to accept the gospel message. The Bible never mentions her again. Perhaps her heart was so hardened from a life of deliberate rebellion against God’s laws that she couldn’t recognize the truth when it was offered to her so clearly.

God has sent each of us a very precious invitation. He offers us the chance to be set free from the penalty for our sinful nature and receive the promise of eternal life with him. God’s offer requires an RSVP from us. We must believe and trust in Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection and must turn away from our old lives of sin. Many people listen to the gospel, but they don’t want to be bothered with changing their lifestyles. Since we don’t know how much time we have left, it’s dangerous to delay in responding to God’s invitation. That’s one reception we definitely don’t want to miss.

If only you would listen to his voice today!

Psalm 95:7