I decided to strip everything away this month and just look at Jesus. Not the do’s and don’ts. Not the rights and wrongs. Just Jesus. I wanted to follow his footsteps so closely that I couldn’t help but get covered in his dust. What would it truly mean to get lost in the tracks of Jesus?
So, as I was flipping through and just looking at how Jesus interacts with people, I was utterly amazed. Jesus hung out with the blind, the lame, the outcast, the poor, the broken. He spent his time with the prostitute, the thief, the drunkard, the beggar, the murderer, the addict, the homeless, the diseased, the unlovable, the unworthy…
Jesus literally spends time with a lot of people the church avoids. This must be changed. Jesus proves that he is available and that he cares. Jesus loves despite circumstances, welcomes without hesitations, and loves at all costs… As the hands and feet of Jesus, this is the church’s job. We are to love with no restrictions. We are to love without expectation of repayment. Love never ends.
This led me to the Jesus talking about the great banquet. Jesus describes a huge banquet where the host invites all these people who end up coming up with excuses about why they cannot attend. The host then tells his servant to go and invite anyone he can. Invite all the people that would never normally be invited. Jesus says to invite people that don’t offer you something in return. You do not give to receive but you give so that others may receive love. This is Jesus’ message.
So, back to the story. After the host tells his servant to literally invite everyone he sees– to invite everyone that gets over looked, the servants response is what I love best. I think it is Jesus’ primary point. The servant says, I’ve done what you’ve asked and there is still more room. That excites me so much. Jesus is saying that there is always more room. There is always more love to pour out. There is always someone who has been overlooked. That is what we are to remember. There’s always more room! Jesus is also saying that this mindset represents the Father. God is always wanting to pour out more love, to invite someone else, and to add another chair.
So… To those reading who aren’t real big on the whole Christian thing or even the whole God thing: that’s ok! Yeah, I said it. That’s ok. Jesus isn’t saying change, he’s just saying JOIN. He wants everyone to know that they’re invited. Regardless of race, sexual preference, religion, gender, status, background, education, clothes, hobby, beliefs, or passion… There’s always more room! Jesus wants you to know that you are loved, welcomed, appreciated, and seen. Accept the invitation. Just join in a life that is about honoring and loving others. That is all. I’m not telling anyone to become Christian or that I have it all together. I don’t and I’m just another seat at the table. I am saying that there is a love that welcomes all. It’s found at the table. Will you take a seat?
Now… To those who consider themselves part of the church, part of the body of Christ: Our job is just to invite. We have been given a free seat at the most amazing, love filled banquet of all time. Are you inviting others to join you? Are you satisfied with inviting the same people we always eat with or are you willing to go out on a limb? It’s time for your love to be visible. Go! Find those who have been overlooked and left out for far too long. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Will you endure until the end? There’s always more room!
Walking with Christ I’ve found out that everyone needs love, life is a banquet, and there’s always more room!
Until next time…
Love,
David
