God models for us the ultimate attitude of hospitality.
When we think of hospitality and invitations, sometimes we picture all the hard work, the preparation, and the time, energy, and money it requires. None of the things we imagine can compare to the preparations Jesus made for inviting us to his table. As any good hostess does, he thinks of his guests before himself. He prepares what he knows will bless us most. He makes sure we have what we need.
Our biggest need, in our whole lives, is to be forgiven and made whole through the love, mercy, grace, and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His invitation to us cost him everything.
The Bible is filled with picture after picture and example after example of Jesus’ invitation to each of us.
The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. (Matthew 22:2, NLT)
He prepared a table for us in Psalm 23 in the presence of our enemies. I always feel like God is saying, “Even if no one else is on your side, I am here. I will always be with you. You are never alone to face your enemies.” It is such a comforting verse, and it’s encouraging to know that we have someone who stands for us and stands with us no matter what.
The picture of the father in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) also shows the heart of a hospitable and loving God. He doesn’t wait for the son to run to him. He runs to the son. He doesn’t wait for him to beg to be a servant in his father’s house; he welcomes him home and prepares a feast of celebration. Our God wants to fellowship with us, and he celebrates when we accept his invitation.
Jesus illustrated hospitality and acceptance of those who society rejected – the tax collectors and sinners, the Pharisees called them (Mark 2:15-16). Both are genuinely “bad” people. The tax collectors were not people of integrity but cheated and stole from their own people. Sinners usually referred to someone they considered immoral and unacceptable by good religious people. But Jesus chose to eat with them and fellowship with them.
God invites us even though we’ve rejected him. In truth, we are all sinners and are all unacceptable by God’s standards (Romans 3:23). In Revelation 22:17, the Spirit of God invites us to come to him. Matthew 11:28 invites those who are weary or carrying heavy burdens to come to God to find rest and relief. Revelation 3:20 reminds us that Jesus stands at the door of our lives and knocks wanting to come in and eat with us. His heart longs for us to accept his invitation.
He knows our hearts and meets us where we are. He met Thomas in his doubt (John 20). He even met the Pharisees in their judgment and cynicism when the friends brought their friend to be healed in Mark 2. For those who were willing, Jesus has always met them (us) where we are. He’s always given an invitation to join him and receive forgiveness and life.
The most amazing act of hospitality is Jesus’ death of the cross. Without his sacrifice, we would have no way to live in God’s presence. He died and rose again so we could not only be his guests but his family. He adopts us as his children (1 John 3:1-3).
The invitation is there, with your name on it (Romans 10:8-13, Romans 5:6-11, John 3:16, . God has invited you to feast with him, to fellowship with him, and to join his family. Have you opened the invitation? Many have. But not everyone chooses to accept it.
It’s a simple act of faith – we must choose to turn away from our sin and turn toward our loving God who gave everything to pay for all we’ve ever done or ever will do wrong. His invitation is not asking you to dress up and be the best guest at the party that you can be. It is an invitation to life change, to new life, and to a new family – God’s family. We can accept his invitation to receive forgiveness and new life. Will you choose today to join him at his table?
And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor.
Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’ So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike,
and the banquet hall was filled with guests. (Matthew 22:8-10, NLT)