“The next time you put on a dinner, don’t just invite your friends and family and rich neighbors, the kind of people who will return the favor. Invite some people who never get invited out, the misfits from the wrong side of the tracks. You’ll be – an experience – a blessing. They won’t be able to return the favor, but the favor will be returned – oh, how it will be returned! – at the resurrection of God’s people.” (Luke 14:12-14 MSG)
I’m sure you’ve heard how Jesus asks us to invite the least of these to our table, but have you ever realized that’s exactly what God’s done with us? He’s asked the stranger and misfit, the sinner to sit and dine with Him for eternity. Both literally and figuratively; through the life and ministry of Jesus, He’s asked us to commune with Him.
The heart of the Kingdom is inclusion. Not the blind acceptance or approval of sin, but the complete transformation that can only occur in the incubator of relationship. God calls sinners to the table but He makes us saints through the confession of sin, the breaking of bread and the intermingling of divine breath in human frames. He finds us as strangers and misfits but by the end of our meal together, we’ll be friends and family. He slowly and surely remakes us whole and holy.
Let that settle in and then wonder why it is we run from this place of healing and hope? Why are we consumed with acquisition (the man buying land), beleaguered by business (the man inspecting his cattle) and distracted by desire (the man with the new bride)? If we adequately understood the honor of our invitation, nothing on earth would interfere with our attendance.
Jesus didn’t go to a perfect planet to interact with perfect people. He came to earth, to a fallen Eden to commune with strangers and misfits. He offers us relationship, healing and an alternate future; all in the course of a few moments together. Will you pull up a chair? Will you settle your broken, bleeding soul into His healing presence? Will you set aside the appetites and affections that fight for your attention as you realize the brevity of this time together?
“That triggered a response from one of the guests. “How fortunate the one who gets to eat dinner in God’s kingdom!”” (Luke 14:15 MSG)
Lord, we are fortunate to receive your invitation. May we choose to sit down. Help us re-orient our lives around the communion offered at Your table. We are so grateful to be seen and loved and attended to by You. May we never take Your inclusion for granted. May we be transformed by our time in Your presence. Amen.