Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” Luke 19:9-10 (story of Zacchaeus)
This past Sunday we started our series on Joy. Through diving into this topic, God has spoken numerous times (to me & others) about the imagery of a table. I shared about the symbolism of the table in last week’s devotional.
Over the next three weeks, we will focus on: being a guest at the table of others, our own personal table, and the Lord’s table. This week we’ll look at “being a guest at the table of others”.
As Christians we’re instructed, through the Word, to:
- love our neighbours as ourselves
- make disciples of all nations
- to love others as Christ has loved us
As a “guest at the table,” I’d like you to look at this as any sort of invitation into someone’s life who does not yet know Jesus.
I look at Jesus‘s example of how he treated Zacchaeus. In the story, Jesus extended love by eating with him in his home. He saw Zacchaeus, showed him kindness, and offered him a chance to change and to receive salvation. When Jesus said he was going to Zacchaeus’ house for lunch, it says: “they all grumbled, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner’” (verse 7). But Jesus wasn’t at all concerned with what others thought of him. He was there to show love and worth to Zacchaeus.
Do we see others? Those who are looked down on in society? Are we willing to reach out? To be gracious, kind, compassionate and humble?
Jesus’s visit moved Zacchaeus to change his whole life. He encountered the love of God. When we are a guest at the table of the lives of others, do they encounter the love of God in us?