13"But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just."
This parable touches on so many parts of our hearts. The human heart is naturally dark, it's just the honest truth. When we throw parties, especially dinner parties we desire everything to be perfect. The decorations, the table setting, the food, the drinks... the people. Think about it, evaluate your heart, it's true. You will spend hours in the bathroom decorating yourself so you look as good as you can, and you expect others to have done the same.
Maybe this is just how crappy my heart is...
However if you invite the poor, the cripple, the lame, and the blind to your party, perfection is thrown out the window. Things are going to look different. Things will smell different. The decorations will mean nothing to a person who is blind. The table settings might be a hindrance to the person who is crippled and lame. Your fancy dress expectation will not be met by the person who is poor.
And at the end of the night you will not be given an invitation to their party...
But what if we started thinking like Jesus? He meant it when He said the first will be last and implored us to care for the least of these. Why? Because in God's economy the rich are poor and the poor are rich. And in His kingdom perfection is based on the condition of the heart and not the condition of the body.
Imagine the extreme joy that would abound from that table!...
Who is at my table? Would Jesus desire to eat at my table? Do people feel welcome at my table? And does Jesus simply mean at a table or is it deeper than that? Is my heart open to all people? Are my eyes open enough to really see who is in front of me? Do I care about others above myself? Do I expect something in return?
"For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just"...
Is there room at your table?
~Nicole
No comments:
Post a Comment