Imagine throwing a party thatās for an important person, the CEO. You bring out the fanciest utensils, the most gorgeous decorations, & invite the most important people. You wait & wait, but nobody shows up. Where are your friends? Everyone you invited doesnāt show up. So you send your child to get guests who can pretend theyāre important before the CEO arrives. They return with 2 people. But you need more people. So you tell your child to get as many as they can by any means necessary. This is your party after all & you were not going to waste it. This story reflects a parable Jesus tells in Luke 14:16-24. A man preps a feast but none of his invited guests show up. They all made excuses. Some very poor ones at that. Why? Perhaps they were too busy, letting their schedules get too packed instead of making time for things that mattered. 2nd reason could be priorities. They prioritized other things as more important than the feast. The host couldāve given up but instead he saw his empty seats as opportunity. Sure it meant that his invitees werenāt present but empty seats at a table are opportunities for people to show up. Churches need empty seats for new people to come and learn about Christ. That empty seat represents the potential to meet Jesus & learn about Him. What does Jesus say about empty seats? FILL THEM! In the parable The host ordered his servant to bring in the poor, the sick, anyone who society frowned upon. Jesus always made sure that the outcasts in society felt welcomed, from beggars to Pharisees. Everyone can have a seat at the table because EVERY SOUL MATTERS TO GOD! If ESMTG then EVERY SOUL MUST MATTER to you! Next time you see an empty seat, invite someone. Invite them to fellowship with you, to come with you to church. Invite them because they matter to God. You do too! Thereās a song that goes āYou donāt make me work for love or to earn Grace. Thatās already mine. You say that Iām acceptedā. Iām writing this to encourage you. You have a seat at Godās table. No matter what youāve done or who you are, God LOVES YOU! He wouldnāt be holding an empty seat for you if He didnāt. Come to the Table #jesus #Table #Cometothetable #youareloved https://www.instagram.com/p/CQotnL9rHun/?utm_medium=tumblr
