The Highway Call: Understanding Luke 14:23
Brothers and sisters of the Azusa Street Riders, when we fire up our engines and hit the open road, we’re answering a call that goes back to the words of Jesus Himself. In Luke 14:23, we read: ‘And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.’ This verse isn’t just scripture – it’s our ministry’s marching orders. When Jesus spoke these words, He was telling a parable about a great banquet where the invited guests made excuses not to come. So the master sent his servant out to the highways and byways to find others who would join the feast. Today, we are those servants, and our motorcycles are the vehicles God has given us to reach those on the modern highways and hedges of our world.
God’s Heart for Highway Disciples
Let’s dig deeper into what this verse reveals about God’s heart. First, notice that God specifically instructs His servant to ‘go out.’ Our faith was never meant to be contained within four church walls. God’s heart has always been for the outsider, the one on the road, the one who might never darken the door of a traditional church. Throughout scripture, we see this pattern. Jesus didn’t wait for people to come to Him; He went to them. He met the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4), He sought out Zacchaeus in the sycamore tree (Luke 19), and He encountered Matthew at his tax booth (Matthew 9:9). The highways and hedges in Jesus’ time were where the marginalized gathered – those society had pushed to the edges. Today’s highways still hold those who feel they don’t belong in traditional religious settings. When we ride to biker events, we’re following Jesus’ model of going where people are, not expecting them to come to us. And note the urgency in the master’s command – he doesn’t say ‘invite them if convenient’ but ‘compel them to come in.’ There’s a holy urgency to our calling as highway disciples.
Motorcycle Ministry: Modern Highways and Hedges
What does it look like for us as the Azusa Street Riders to apply this scripture today? Our motorcycles give us access to communities and conversations that might otherwise remain closed. When we ride into a biker event, we’re not just showing up – we’re fulfilling biblical prophecy by going ‘into the highways.’ Our patches and vests identify us, but it’s our presence and conversation that fulfill the calling to ‘compel them to come in.’ And what does it mean to ‘compel’? The Greek word here is ‘anagkazō’ – it doesn’t mean to force or manipulate, but to strongly urge through persuasion and authentic relationship. It’s sharing our testimonies of how God changed our lives. It’s listening to a fellow rider’s struggles and offering hope. It’s being authentic about our own journeys. Every time we attend a motorcycle rally, every Biker Sunday we host, we’re creating spaces where people can encounter God’s love in a way that makes sense to them. The highways of ancient Israel have become the asphalt ribbons where we ride, and the Spirit rides with us, seeking those who need to hear that God’s house has room for them too.
From Conversation to Conversion: Discipleship at Biker Events
But our calling goes beyond initial contact. Luke 14:23 isn’t just about inviting people to a one-time event; it’s about filling God’s house permanently. This is where discipleship comes in. When we talk with people at biker events, we’re planting seeds that need nurturing to grow. Jesus didn’t just call His disciples once; He walked with them for years. Similarly, our conversations at biker events are often just the beginning of a discipleship journey. Remember how Jesus discipled: He used everyday language and examples people understood. He met people where they were but loved them too much to leave them there. For us as motorcycle ministers, discipleship happens in the parking lots of events, over the roar of engines, during group rides, and in follow-up conversations. It might look like exchanging phone numbers with someone you met, inviting them for coffee, or connecting them with other believers who ride. It might mean helping a new believer understand how to read their Bible or pray. And just like motorcycle riding skills improve with practice and guidance, spiritual growth happens through consistent relationship and mentoring. Every conversation is an opportunity for discipleship, turning highway encounters into eternal impact.
Filling God’s House Through Two-Wheeled Testimony
Brothers and sisters, Luke 14:23 ends with the master’s purpose: ‘that my house may be filled.’ This is God’s heart – not empty pews or hollow religion, but a house filled with diverse people from every walk of life, including those who arrived on two wheels. When we ride out to biker events, when we engage in conversations that lead to discipleship, we’re not just recruiting members for our ministry; we’re fulfilling God’s desire to see His house filled with worshippers. Every biker who finds Christ through our outreach is another seat filled at God’s table. Every life transformed through discipleship conversations is a testimony to the power of going ‘into the highways and hedges.’ As we close, I challenge each of us to see our motorcycles as more than transportation – they are ministry tools given by God to reach places and people others cannot. Let us ride with purpose, talk with intention, and disciple with persistence. The highways are waiting, filled with people God loves. Let us be the servants who go out, compel them to come in, and help fill God’s house. In the rumble of our engines, may the world hear the invitation of Christ. Ride safe, ride with purpose, and ride for the Kingdom. Amen.
