January 02nd, 2020

Have you ever felt left out? Like an outsider? Like you don’t belong?

I have. . . and it’s not fun!

I remember having tears in my eyes. Rage was building inside of me. I had just moved from the rural fields of Central Nebraska to suburban Detroit. For the last four years, I played center on the basketball team for the last four years (I was 5'8" and there were only 6 guys on the team, so it wasn't like I had any competition... but don't tell that to a 13 year old jock!). It was the first day of 8th grade basketball try-outs. I knew the game and yet didn't know the drills. I understood the language and yet didn't know anybody well enough to play cohesively. And even though I could run with the rest of the guys, I knew I didn't socially belong. I was an outsider from Nebraska in a pool of suburban kids who had been playing ball together since elementary school. And no matter how hard I tried, there was no way of earning an invitation onto team.

That was a really hard week.

Good thing Jesus doesn’t leave any of us out! The Apostle Paul nails it when he writes, "remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ." (Ephesians 2:12-13)
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What if Jesus extended an invitation to you to have a seat at the table - regardless of who you are and what you've done?

What if Jesus invites someone to the table and you don't think they should be there?

What if there is always more room at the table... and people are dying to take their seat?

Could it be that Jesus wants to invite more people to the table... and He wants you to extend the invitation because you're already there?

Let’s kick off the new year by discovering what it means to have a seat “at the table”. You’re invited (and your friends and family are, too!). Bring your Bible and invite someone else, this Sunday. Can’t wait! 

Love you more than you know! -pt