Yesterday's devotional with the kids: The Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:15 - 23)

So my children are now 9, almost 7, and 4.  We've read to them and with them childrens' bibles for quite some time now.  They know all the main stories and people.  I've decided they are ready for some meat...at least my older two, and my little one is getting better at quietly listening.  During the school year we had a hard time getting up to do a devotional, we'd pray together though.  But this summer I'm determined we will start our day off with God!
  SO we read:

The Parable of the Great Banquet

¹⁵ 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.”
¹⁶ Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. ¹⁷ At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
¹⁸ “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.’
¹⁹ “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’
²⁰ “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
²¹ “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.’
²² “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’
²³ “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. ²⁴ I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”

Then we discussed who were the invited? Well historically the Jews, they were God's chosen people but when Jesus came to them as the Messiah many of them rejected Him.  God then invited any who would come but still many had excuses.  So God has granted the privilege to come to Him and His banquet any who will!   May we see our need for Him and be ready to accept Him, and also COMPEL ALL WHO WILL COME!!!