Come to the Table

Last night I was invited to "Come to the Table" at the house of the woman whom God healed two weeks ago. Her family gave a party to celebrate the miraculous healing God did in her life.

I felt in many ways that I was sitting amongst spiritual giants. Her father is from South Africa and his grandmother met Jesus through Andrew Murray. This man now teaches and exhorts pastors and leaders in many places throughout the world. Our conversation very much revolved around the idea of Coming to the Table.

What does it mean to "Come to the Table?" We explored this the Missio Lux Celebration Service Sunday night. I am still exploring it but this is what I believe Jesus has shown me so far.

First, it is a multi-faceted invitation. It starts with Jesus' invitation to us.

Revelation 3:20 says: "Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I will come right in and sit down to supper with you."

Jesus is the one who pursues us. He is standing, knocking, all we need to do is open the door. Jesus is there and he wants to do life with us. He isn't going to hestitate or criticize our house or our meal, he comes right in and sits down. He takes what is ordinary (supper) and makes it extraordinary. The mundane things of life become full of meaning when we respond to Jesus' invitation to be part of them.

Next, it is an invitation for us to come to the table together.

God's design for people are to be together, knowing one another and being known. In those deepest places of our lives. To be loved and accepted. The early believers understood sacred hospitality and practiced it so fluidly that people liked what they saw and wanted to be part of it. The Message states that "every meal was a celebration: exuberant and joyful." This is life at its' fullest! Last night we crowded around the dining room table, many conversations taking place, all filling us up as much as the meal on the plates.

Finally, it is an invitation to be present to the world through invitation to the table.

Luke 14 tells us that the next time that we put on a dinner, don't just invite your friends, family and rich neighbors: the kind of people who will repay the favor, but go into the streets and invite the lame, the poor, the crippled and the blind.

It is when we have come to the table with Jesus and experienced real community with people that we walk through life with, that we are able to extend the invitation to fill our table with those that Jesus tells us to invite.

Where are you in this invitation to Come to the Table?

Have you experienced doing life with Jesus, seeing the ordinary becoming extraordinary?
Have you experienced a crowded table with people that know you and accept you for all that you are: faults and all?
Have you reached out beyond your safe world to love up those that Jesus calls us to love most of all?

If not, accept the invitation today to hear Jesus' knock and to open the door. It's time to change the world, and it starts with our invitation from Jesus.....