Highways, Hedges, and the Bridge You’re Building
Scripture
"And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled."
— Luke 14:23 (ESV)
Devotion
Pastor Darren ended with a strong image: believers out in the “hills and hollers,” the highways and hedges, clearing kudzu, working in odd locations where others see only mess.
Jesus told a parable of a great banquet where the original invitees made excuses. In response, the master sent his servant out to find:
That’s God’s heart. When “church people” get comfortable and distracted, God’s invitation doesn’t shut down; it moves outward. To the overlooked. The wounded. The ones “out in the woods.”
Pastor said some of the people God will send you to are “feral”—untouched, wild, messy. But they need Jesus. And God intends to use your story, your voice, to “compel” them to come.
The “bridge” God is building is not just about your personal growth; it’s about connecting the wilderness to the presence of God. You are part of that project.
You may feel small, unqualified, or unsure. But like Noah building an ark before anyone had seen rain, like Nehemiah building walls as a cupbearer, you are called to obey—even when it looks strange.
Your voice. Your testimony. Your courage to invite. Your willingness to love hard people. These are beams and planks in the bridge God is building for the next generation.
Reflection
"And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled."
— Luke 14:23 (ESV)
Devotion
Pastor Darren ended with a strong image: believers out in the “hills and hollers,” the highways and hedges, clearing kudzu, working in odd locations where others see only mess.
Jesus told a parable of a great banquet where the original invitees made excuses. In response, the master sent his servant out to find:
- The poor
- The disabled
- The blind
- The limping
That’s God’s heart. When “church people” get comfortable and distracted, God’s invitation doesn’t shut down; it moves outward. To the overlooked. The wounded. The ones “out in the woods.”
Pastor said some of the people God will send you to are “feral”—untouched, wild, messy. But they need Jesus. And God intends to use your story, your voice, to “compel” them to come.
The “bridge” God is building is not just about your personal growth; it’s about connecting the wilderness to the presence of God. You are part of that project.
You may feel small, unqualified, or unsure. But like Noah building an ark before anyone had seen rain, like Nehemiah building walls as a cupbearer, you are called to obey—even when it looks strange.
Your voice. Your testimony. Your courage to invite. Your willingness to love hard people. These are beams and planks in the bridge God is building for the next generation.
Reflection
- Who are the “highways and hedges” people in your life right now—those far from church, far from God, or far from hope?
- Ask God for one specific step this week:
- A conversation
- An invitation to church
- A practical act of love
- Sharing how Jesus has changed you
- Pray: “Lord, I offer You my voice. Use me as a bridge-builder. Send me to the highways and hedges. Let me be part of bringing many to Your table.”