Come to the Table

“We all start on the outside
The outside looking in
This is where grace begins
We were hungry we were thirsty
With nothing left to give
Oh the shape that we were in
Just when all hope seemed lost
Love opened the door for us

He said come to the table
Come join the sinners who have been redeemed
Take your place beside the Savior
Sit down and be set free

Come to the table

Come meet this motley crew of misfits
These liars and these thieves
There’s no one unwelcome here
That sin and shame that you brought with you

You can leave it at the door
And let mercy draw you near…”

I heard Come to the Table from Sidewalk Prophets on my way home this week.

The song really resonated with me.

When all is said and done,

we are all just a “motley crew of misfits,”

and

“sinners who have been redeemed.”

So when we take the bread and the cup, we must remember we are sinners who have been redeemed.

Whatever Happened to the Jesus Creed?

The Jesus Creed is found in Matthew 22:37-40,

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (NIV)

Simply put, the Jesus Creed is loving God and loving others.

When we follow the Jesus Creed, we are truly Jesus followers.

When we follow the Jesus Creed, we are more like Jesus.

When we follow the Jesus Creed, there will be a clear demarcation between kingdom politics and worldly politics.

The Answer

The following is from the heart.

As I look around.

As I listen to the news.

As I view what is projected on the screen.

As I travel.

As I step in to a Walmart.

As I read.

My heart is heavy.

My heart is broken.

Why?

Because of the brokenness that I continue to witness and see all around me.

It is existential.

This existentialism is surely by design.

How can I ignore what I truly experience as a human being.

I can feel, smell, touch, see, hear, and touch it all.

But my existentialism has informed me that Jesus is the only ansswer.

If we truly believe in the incarnate God of Christmas and Easter, then we must shout, “hallelujah!”

Jesus is the answer.

We must look to him for transformation and lasting change in our world.

The answer is not with our politicians. Scientists. Academics. Doctors. Pastors.

I am so tired of where we continue look.

Look to Jesus.

We must let his life flow through us to bless the world for his glory.

Amen.

My Prayer for Christmas (Eve 2021)

The Christmas songs have been playing–the classics to the contemporaries.

I love Christmas!

I love the season of Advent, looking back to the First coming and at the same time to the Second.

But my prayer is for the wonder of Christmas to lead to transform lives, which bring glory to King Jesus.

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. –Luke 2:8-20 NIV

The shepherds found the Christ Child with his parents lying in a manger. Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen.

My prayer this Christmas is for transformed lives because of the wonder of Christmas.

Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.