Who's Missing From Your Table?

¹⁶ Jesus replied, “A certain man hosted a large dinner and invited many people. ¹⁷ When it was time for the dinner to begin, he sent his servant to tell the invited guests, ‘Come! The dinner is now ready.’ ¹⁸ One by one, they all began to make excuses. The first one told him, ‘I bought a farm and must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ ¹⁹  Another said, ‘I bought five teams of oxen, and I’m going to check on them. Please excuse me.’ ²⁰ Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ ²¹  When he returned, the servant reported these excuses to his master. The master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go quickly to the city’s streets, the busy ones and the side streets, and bring the poor, crippled, blind, and lame.’ ²² The servant said, ‘Master, your instructions have been followed and there is still room.’ ²³ The master said to the servant, ‘Go to the highways and back alleys and urge people to come in so that my house will be filled. -- Luke 14:16-23 Common English Bible

Think back to a time you laughed so hard around a table with friends that you could barely breathe. A time when the food was good, but the company was even better. In those moments, stories flow, walls come down, and everyone simply belongs.

Jesus often used the setting of a shared meal to teach his most important lessons. He once told a powerful story, now known as the Parable of the Great Banquet, about a man who planned a huge feast. He sent out invitations to all his friends and respected members of the community. But when the party was ready, they all started making excuses. One was too busy with his new property, another with his work. Their lives were too full to accept the invitation.

This part of the story asks us to look at our own lives. Are we sometimes the invited guest who is too busy? We get so wrapped up in our own plans, our own comfort, and our own small circles that we miss the greater invitation God has for us.

In the story, the host grew upset. He told his servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.” He wanted his house to be full. This is the heart of God. His invitation isn’t just for the people who seem to have it all together; it’s especially for those who feel broken, lonely, or left out.

Where do you see yourself in this story? Maybe you are like the servant, called to go into the unfamiliar places and extend God’s invitation to people who have never heard it. Or perhaps you feel like one of the people from the streets—someone who thought you’d never be on the guest list for a great party. The beautiful truth of this story is that God’s table has a seat for everyone. He is actively looking for those who have been overlooked, and He wants His house to be full.

This week, look for one person who might feel overlooked or lonely. Invite them to share something with you—it could be a cup of coffee, lunch, or a simple meal at your home. The goal is simply to make room at your table for someone new.

Prayer: God, I ask you for eyes to see the person you want me to invite to my table, and the courage to...