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Room at the Table of God

In May 2018 I was visiting Israel for the first time.  Filled with many aspirations for my time there, my thoughts of seeing the Sea of Galilee, standing on Mount Carmel, floating on the Dead Sea, standing on the Mount of Olives looking over Jerusalem it was difficult to say what I was most excited to experience.  Every one of those locations were beyond my expectation, but something that was not top of my list was a dinner that I had scheduled in Haifa, Israel with relatives of one of my neighbors here in Lititz.  Having built a relationship with my neighbors who are of Lebanese and Israeli Arab descent, I had expressed interest in meeting their family while I was in Israel.  Through many logistical challenges we were able to make the encounter happen.  The arrangement was for me to be dropped off at their home in Haifa while the team I was with toured the city.  I was greeted warmly at the door and when I came into their home a flat in a tall residential building, I discovered that they had gone to great lengths to host me.  The table was set beautifully, the aroma of the food was amazing.  They had invited additional family members to be at the table—all of this was simply for a stranger who lived next to their daughter, sister, and grandchildren in the States. 

Those two hours flew by.  The table discussion through broken English was exhilarating.  They shared their story and their plight as Israeli Arabs of Catholic faith who were both grateful for the Israeli government but concerned for their future.  My heart for them was filled with compassion.  I wanted to stay longer and understand more, but my ride back to Galilee had arrived. 

My experience at that table taught me that when you open your table up to people, you open their hearts.  I was that unexpected recipient of such kindness and grace.  I saw a reflection of God’s heart at that table that I will never forget.  In fact, it is at the table of Jesus we get a picture of God’s heart for people. 

The table observed and critiqued.  Luke 15:1-3

• Jesus was hospitable to all guests he dined with.
  • There were no preconditions or prerequisites that dictated who was welcomed.
  • Hearts were opened by these dinner conversations.

• The Pharisees were selective in their hospitality.
  • Where they ate mattered—the right home, right town.
  • Who they ate with mattered—the right heritage, the right reputation.
  • Judgment was cast before any heart could be given opportunity to move.

Pharisees had a heart problem and a theological problem.

• They valued their own standing and were not in the mindset of serving for others benefit.
  
  
• They did not have the pulse of God’s heart for those who needed restored to Him.
  
  
• They thought the role of priest was to judge on behalf of God when their role was to invite others to return to God.
  
  
• There was no room at their table—you had to get yourself clean before you come verses coming to get yourself clean.

3 Parables to point us to better Theology—A better understanding of God.

1. The Parable of the Lost Sheep. Luke 15:4-7

• God is not satisfied with 99 safe ones.
• God pursues all those who are lost.
• God celebrates with Heaven each sinner who repents and turns to Him.

2. The Parable of the Lost Coin. Luke 15:8-10

• When you have lost something of great value to you, you look for it…frantically!
  • Beyond a lost golf ball.
  • Lost keys…yes!
  • Lost Phone! That is the worst.
  • Lost ID while traveling…yes!
• God pursues with fervent passion those who are lost.
• God celebrates with Heaven each sinner who repents and turns to Him.

3. The Parable of the Lost Son. Luke 15:11-32

• The younger son was an impatient, self-centered jerk who did not consider the disrespect and hurt he was causing to his brother and father.
  • He circumvented his brother’s role and was burying a father before he was dead.
• The path he chose was doomed to fail and it did.
• Being desperately low he humbly returned home.
• The father is representative of God.
• God pursues and receives the lost before confession begins. (20-21)
• God celebrates the return of those who have rebelled and failed miserably.

God pursues us, receives us, and restores us regardless of who you are and what you have done.

God celebrates with Heaven when you come to Him. 

There is room at His table for your heart to be opened.  Come!