Who's on my guest list?

When you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed. — Luke 14:13-14

I love hosting festive dinners. Sometimes I’ll say: “Tonia, we haven’t had anyone over for dinner in a while. Who do you think we should invite?” We go through our proposed guest list and suggest friends we have never invited or have not invited in a while. And it seems like this list is normally comprised of people who look and sound and live like we do, and who can reciprocate. But if we were to ask Jesus whom we should have over for dinner, He would give us a totally different guest list.

One day a prominent Pharisee invited Jesus into his home, probably for table fellowship, but possibly to watch Him. While there, Jesus healed a man and taught the host a significant lesson: When making out your guest list for a dinner party, you should not be exclusive — inviting friends, relatives, rich neighbors, and those who can pay you back. Instead, you should be inclusive — inviting the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Although such people would not be able to pay the host back, Jesus assured him that he would be blessed and that God would reward him (Luke 14:12-14).

Just as Jesus loves the less fortunate, He invites us to love them by opening up our hearts and homes. — Marvin Williams

The poor and needy everywhere

Are objects of God’s love and care,

But they will always know despair

Unless His love with them we share. — D. De Haan

READ: Luke 14:7-14

Opening our hearts and homes blesses both us and others.

The Bible in one year:

• 1 Samuel 7-9

• Luke 9:18-36