Set The Table
One of my traditions is keeping my dining table set at Christmas. Set with glassware, napkins and dishes, they’re beautiful and festive (I really appreciate beauty), and it means something bigger to me:
Keep the table ready and open.
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Jesus came to planet Earth as a non-threatening, approachable baby. That was deliberate.
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He spent a large part of his time ministering to those on the margins of society. Deliberate.
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He partied with tax collectors and “sinners.” Deliberate.
Dr. Luke (a bright, organized man, changed by the good news of Christmas) tells us in his gospel that Jesus taught His disciples:
“When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. ”
Jesus isn’t telling us to ditch our family and friends this Christmas. But He is reminding us that you are naturally going to include your friends and family. (And chances are, someone’s noting who’s been to whose home and how often). Do something supernatural and include someone else.
Keep the table ready and open. You just never know what God's up to.
In CHRIST,
I'm real because God is so real
Your Calling For Today
Ask God whom He’d like you to include in one of your Christmas/holiday gatherings. Remember the international students (or internationals in general). Singles. Someone new to the area. Someone far from God. Someone poor or overlooked in any way. Include them around your table this Christmas.