A Seat at the Table

Blog One: Belonging

Opening Question: What would it look like to accept the invitation to commune with Jesus.

Bible Verse: Mark 2:15-17

"While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: 'Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?' On hearing this, Jesus said to them, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'"

Now on to the blog!

There was a man who I used to go to church with who was known for inviting everyone to lunch after church. It didn’t matter if it was your first time stepping into a church, or the thousandth. It didn’t matter if you were new to our church, or if you were a founding member. It didn’t matter if you were young or old, rich or poor, or had your life together. He still invited you to sit and eat, in communion with each other. While this man was far from perfect, his love resembles Christ's love for us.

Humans are broken. We are sinful, and our lives are messy. Many (including me) wonder how we can belong to such a Holy and perfect God, how we can even measure up. We often get too overwhelmed by this daunting task and stop trying at all. We walk far away from Christ, fearing if we ask for acceptance from Him our sinful selves will be rejected. This idea seeps into our world, in our status’ and hierarchies, in the boxes we build ourselves into.

But, this is not Jesus. Jesus values hearts that are broken and beaten- hearts trying, not hearts that are perfect.

Jesus lavishly loves us, no matter how far we have walked away. He invites us back into His loving embrace with open arms and sits us down to eat with Him.

In Jesus’ time on earth, much to the disdain of the ‘higher ups’, Jesus ate with sinners. He sat down to dinner with the lowest of society. He did not question them, He did not blame them, and He did not force them into repentance. He simply ate with them. He built relationships, He simply loved them. Yes- the repentance and serious stuff came, but it came out of communion with Jesus happening first.

There are 2 things I want you to take away from this. First, you are never too far gone to belong to Jesus. There is always an invitation available from Jesus to come into His arms and be in a relationship with Him. Jesus is always available to walk this life with you, eat with you, and lavishly love you. Second, we must go out and show people this Jesus.

We must sit with people in their brokenness and messiness and break bread with them. We must love others the way Jesus has loved us.

Friend, there is a place at the table for you, let's make sure everyone else knows that they have one too.

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

I praise you for being a God that accepts us for who we are.

I praise you for your grace and mercy- that you shower upon us every day.

I’m sorry for walking away from you, out of fear or anger.

I’m sorry for judging others, or assuming that they are more or less deserving of a seat at your table than I am.

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to have personal relationship with you.

Thank you for never leaving us.

Please help us remember that no matter what, everyone of your children is invited to your table.

Amen.