Still, There Is Room

LUKE 14:23

The master said to the servant, “Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.”

I recently attended a conference with no assigned seats for the dinner reception and, despite being a forty-something adult, when I walked into the room for the meal, I was thinking, “Where do I sit?” We all still have a bit of our sixth-grade-lunch-table selves in us, don’t we? We can all experience the social anxiety of “Where do I fit in?” and “Who are my people?” and “Am I truly welcome here?”

I love the heart of Jesus displayed in our passage. Jesus wants His house filled to the brim, and through His actions, He communicates that He obliterates all cliques. Jesus’ very heart is drawn to the outcasts, the forgotten, the excluded, the otherwise uninvited, and the left-out, and He says, “Friend, there’s a seat at My table for you.” Jesus came to invite the broken to the banquet of His grace. In the parable in Luke 14, a host had invited many to his banquet, but just as many made up excuses why they could not come. He instructed his servant to “bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame,” which the servant did. There was still room. That’s when the master said “Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.”

It’s remarkable that the title “friend of sinners” was initially a harsh critique hurled on Jesus by the religious elite of His time because, to any who are aware of their brokenness and sin, it is the sweetest music the ears can hear. The Savior made sinners feel comfortable in His presence. They were drawn to Him like moths are drawn to a light in an evening sky. Jesus enjoyed spending time with unbelievers and made them feel relaxed and at ease in His presence. Why else do you think crowds flocked to Jesus? It was enjoyable to be with Him, and they felt accepted. What impresses Jesus, what gets His attention, what brings blessing from the Lord is not a stuffy atmosphere of privileged religious elitism. It’s a love for the hurting, compassion for the destitute, mercy for the weak, help for the needy, heart for the downtrodden, the welcoming in of the lost—the intentional pursuit of the broken. It’s open arms. We invite the broken to feast at our tables, so they have a taste of what it’s like to feast at His. We invite others to join us in our mess, so we can watch what Christ alone can do in theirs. If we are to reflect the heart of God, we will tenderly open our arms wide, graciously extend the invitation, and watch the Savior do His work.

Reflect

When's the last time you felt like a sixth grader walking into a lunchroom, wondering where you fit in? Why do you think crowds of broken people flocked to Jesus?

Let’s Pray

Lord Jesus, thank You for opening Your arms wide to the broken, the left-out, the hurting, the outcasts, and the otherwise forgotten. You are so gracious and so generous. I gladly accept Your invitation. Help me have a heart for others the way You have opened Your heart to me. Use me to extend this invitation to others for Your glory. In Your name, I pray. Amen.

Enjoyed this devotional? Be sure to grab your copy of the 100-day devotional, Overflowing Mercies by Craig Allen Cooper, and soak deeply in God's love and compassion.