Scripture
11For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” 12Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. 13Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.”
Luke 14:11-14
Observation
“When Jesus noticed that all who had come to the dinner were trying to sit in the seats of honor near the head of the table, he gave them this advice…” Verse 7 really sets the table… sorry bad pun, for the lesson Jesus is about to teach on the power of humility and invitation. “Jesus noticed all who had come”. This really hit me. Jesus is noticing everyone posturing for the best seat. He’s also noticing everyone gathered are friends of the host, the power players in the community. This was a “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” scenario if there ever was one. Now, of course Jesus wasn’t interested in any of that so He uses this as an opportunity to open the eyes of those in the room so they can see what they’ve been missing. You can hear the heart of God longing for everyone to be included both at this table and the table at the Feast of The Lamb after the resurrection. Everyone was so focused on themselves they didn’t notice who was on God’s invitation list, “the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.” Later on Jesus tells a parable stating, “Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.” (Lk. 14:23). In other words, make an effort, get out of your comfort zone and invite those you would never otherwise give a second thought to and who can never pay you back. God wants His house full of people we don’t even know yet or would even try to avoid.
Application
Yesterday Theresa Belliotti (our TFH Bookkeeper) and I went around to all the neighbors in the business park our church meets in. We brought Christmas cookies and invitations to our Christmas Eve celebration services. Though we had done the same thing last year we met and talked with twice as many people. Most were still staying at home or behind locked doors due to Covid in 2020. It was such a joy to talk with the ones we share parking spaces with all year long. At first we were met with suspicion as we walked up with tins of cookies. Just as they were ready to point to the “no soliciting” sign I would say, “Merry Christmas! We are from The Father’s House and we just wanted to give you some Christmas cookies.” Well, it’s amazing what cookies can do to quell suspicion and open doors to conversation. One neighbor opened about some health issues. Another asked for prayer for as this week marks the anniversary of the suicide of her brother. Most were just quick chats and an invite to our services, but every single one was left with a smile on their face. Now, I don’t know if we will see any of them at our Kids Christmas service this Sunday or at our Christmas Eve services, but I do know one thing… I need to talk with my neighbors more often then once a year at Christmas time.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for the timely reminder that You want a full house and You want to fill it with people that are completely different from me. I pray for those we interacted with yesterday around 1185 Linda Vista Drive. I pray that as our business park neighbors eat those cookies and look at that invitation that they will sense Your voice calling them home. I pray that as our family goes out to bring fresh fudge and invites to our neighbors around our house that You will literally and spiritually open doors. Give me your heart for those who don’t know You but You have put directly in my path. Give me your heart for those that ghost me, those that have assumed the worst of me, those that dress, act, vote differently than me. Give me Your heart that loved everyone so much that you left the glories of Heaven to be born in our dirt and experience our pain. If You left Heaven to show me You loved me the least I can do is walk across the street.
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