A Place for Everyone

Chocolate is Missing

For all who exalt themselves

will be humbled,

and those who humble

themselves will be exalted.”

(from Luke 14:1,7-14)

Leave it to Jesus to turn things upside down. 

In this story, Jesus is encouraging low-status believers who are trying to negotiate their way through the complicated, oppressive Roman society.

There was a place for everyone, but everyone had to know their place.

Jesus, to help people understand what living in God's kingdom was like, often used the image of feasting. 

In God's kingdom, all are welcome no matter what your social or economic status is in society.

Jesus teaches how important humility is because practicing it points to God's mighty grace. 

It works like this.

One of the first places you can find me after worship is the refreshment table spread with all sorts of goodies.

First, I scan the table for Chocolate.

You may not call this table a feast, but I assure you there are all sorts of items on it. 

We've had French Toast with sausage links and syrup, or someone's special pie, or overbaked cookies, or donated Oreos, or quiche.

This is what God's kingdom is like, since person's social or economic status doesn't matter, everyone is welcome at the table.

All one needs to do is make choices and join the folks sitting together talking about their lives, society, or the world conditions.

This is fine for Sunday when hospitality is an expectation and a norm.

But the real test of our hospitality is practicing it on Wednesday in Walmart when no one is watching.

As Spirit-filled people of God we are different from the world because of our testimony.  

It’s how we handle life that shows the world what the God's Kingdom is like.