Read: Luke 14:1–24
On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the Sabbath, they were watching Him closely. Luke 14:1
Can’t we just have a nice, quiet dinner without getting into any arguments? Apparently the answer from Jesus was always a resounding, No! If you invited Jesus over for dinner, if you invited Jesus into your life, if you engaged Jesus in conversation—you best be prepared to be challenged! A leading Pharisee had invited Jesus over for the holy Shabbat meal and found himself and his guests embroiled in controversial conversations about Sabbath observance, appropriate seating arrangements, and who will be welcomed at God’s banquet table. Jesus did not waste time with pleasantries and polite conversation. When we welcome Jesus into our homes or our lives, Jesus confronts our faults and failings so that we might turn our lives toward God and start living more fully and faithfully.
What issues would Jesus confront you with, if you invited Him over to dinner?
Lord, I like to think that inviting You into my life would be a pleasant and affirming experience. I envision You and I having a leisurely conversation about all the joys and sorrows of the world and what we might do to address them. However, if I look at Your life in the Bible, I know our dinner conversation would be anything but innocuous. You would confront me. You would convict me. And You would attempt to convert me to a more faithful way of living. That may be reason enough to keep You out of my home and out of my life. But, deep down, in that place I don’t like to admit exists, I know I need to change. So, please, join me for dinner—enter my house, enter my life . . . and tell me how I should live. In Your name, I pray. AMEN.