Luke 14:1-24 In these passages of scripture, the Lord told a story of a rich ruler, a Pharisee that prepared a banquet. He sent his servant out to bid the guests to attend. The servant journeyed to four different locations in order to find guests to attend the dinner. The first place the servant was told to go was to the streets and lanes . Normally speaking, streets and lanes are in close proximity to where you live. The Greek definition for streets or lanes is a feminine noun meaning just what you would think, a street, lane or highway. Most of us normally choose to live in an area or community with people that are of the same economical, spiritual, or social background as we. It doesn't mean we are of more value to God than others living in a less desirable place, it simply means we tend to fellowship with those we can relate to better socially or spiritually, i.e. the church, your job, neighbors, etc. So this servant went to those of his own neighborhood and invited them to the banquet. Everyone was too busy. Does that remind you of the Christian today? If we do find time to witness to our own neighbors or social class of people, they're too busy to come. When the servant was unsuccessful in the streets and lanes close to home, the ruler told the servant to go to the highways and hedges. Now this required a little more time, work, or involvement. The servant needed to get out of his comfort zone and reach a little further to invite guests to the banquet. In the Greek language HIGHWAY is a feminine noun, meaning A traveled way HEDGE is a masculine noun, meaning, That which separates or prevents two from coming together. When I think of a highway, I think of the highway just outside my neighborhood. Unlike my cul-de-sac, it is a very busy place. People are traveling at a greater speed, not slowing down unless absolutely necessary. Does that sound like the world today? People are just going to and fro busying themselves with all manner of things. They're seeking out things they think will bring enjoyment to their lives, like alcohol, drugs, sex and money. Of course, all of these things only bring temporary satisfaction. These people build up walls (hedges) that are extremely hard to penetrate. When we think of a hedge today, we often think of a set of shrubs that are used as landscaping. They' re also used as a barrier or screen for more privacy. In biblical days, hedges did much more than provide landscaping. They were actually used as a barrier. They weren't your normal run of the mill hedges either. These hedges were built to protect the people that lived behind them. They included briars and sharp protruding objects that were used more like weapons for protection. If you encountered a hedge in biblical times uninvited, you probably would have been injured or killed. When the servant went into the highways and hedges, he was more vulnerable. The risks were greater, and the hedges were certainly harder to penetrate. How often are we going into the highways and hedges to minister to those that are hiding, trying to protect themselves and their hearts from hurt or pain. Do we put ourselves at risk to try and penetrate the hedges in order to win the lost? Do we leave our familiar streets and lanes and enter into a more dangerous place in the highways? Do we go even further behind the hedges to reach the lost? If we aren't leaving the comfort of our own streets and lanes close to home, or our "comfort zones", we probably aren't going into the highways and hedges. We need to ponder this lesson in Luke 14 a little longer. We must reach those that are hurting, those hiding their hearts behind the hedges of life. Will you put yourself at risk by coming in contact with the caloused hearts beyond the streets and lanes and go a little deeper, a little further, into the Highways and Hedges to win the lost? That's my prayer of submission for me and you, and God's heart and desire for the lost. This is why I'm involved with Highways & Hedges ministries. May the Lord Bless, Pat Vanderhoof