God’s Heart for You

LUKE 14:12–14

He (Jesus) said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 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.”

Life is hard, and we err when we take the hard stuff of life and equate it to the heart of God as if God takes delight in our troubles. We may often struggle to believe that God’s heart toward us is graciously inclined, favorably disposed, eagerly leaning forward to bless with a spare-no-expense disposition of mercy and kindness. We see God inviting those who could never repay to feast at His table of mercy and grace.

Several years ago, my wife, Laura, and I celebrated our fortieth birthdays with an epic trip up scenic Route 1 along the coast of California. Traveling from southern California to northern California, curving around the rocky shore of Big Sur, was incredibly breathtaking. After that trip, we were determined to travel back to California, and a few years later, we did.

Arriving in northern California, we were thrilled by the invitation to join a dinner party at a restaurant previously ranked the top in the world. There we were, treated to what may be the finest meal we have ever enjoyed this side of heaven. Now, this restaurant was not something we could readily afford. Still, we gratefully accepted the invitation, joined the group, and were blown away by the extravagance of every detail of that evening and the meal we enjoyed at the expense of our gracious host.

We left with a gift, a clothespin with the name of the restaurant typeset onto it, given as a souvenir to help the guests remember that evening’s experience. Laura handed it to me, and she said, “Craig, remember, this is God’s heart for you: extravagant affection.” The Lord loves us with lavish love, bountiful goodness, and tender mercy. Believe it. Receive it. Enjoy it. That’s God’s heart for you.

Reflect

Do you struggle to believe that God’s heart toward you is graciously inclined, favorably disposed, and eagerly leaning forward to bless you with a spare-no-expense type of kindness? How does this meditation encourage your faith in God’s grace toward you?

Let’s Pray

Lord, thank You for inviting the poor, crippled, lame, blind, and needy to come feast at the table of Your grace and mercy. You didn’t invite those who could repay You to join You at Your table; You invited the needy to shower them with mercy. Thank You for saving a seat for me at Your table. I accept Your invitation and relish Your tender mercy. In Jesus’ name, amen.