eats with sinners
a devotional by Rev. Dr. Timothy J Heupel
It was posed as question but the thought offers great comfort to
me. When Jesus was at Matthew’s house celebrating his new
appointment of becoming an apostle of Christ the religious
leaders asked those who had been following Jesus, “Why does
your leader eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Evidently, they
thought that Jesus should distance himself from those they
perceived to be unworthy of God and His amazing grace and
love. When I think that Jesus was and is willing to sit at table
and dine with sinners it comforts me, because then I know that
he is willing to hang with and dine with me.
A favorite verse of mine comes from the old spiritual, “And I
Know.” The verse states, “Come ye sinners, lost and lonely
Jesus’s blood can make you free. For He saved the worst among
us when He saved a wretch like me.”
That perhaps is what Paul had in mind when he wrote, “This is
a trustworthy statement and worthy of full acceptance, Christ
Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the
Chief” (1Timothy 1:15). I would challenge Paul for that title. I
daily reflect on my sin and disobedience and marvel that God
wants to have anything to do with me and yet He desires to dine
with me. Others may perceive that I am not worthy of such
company and grace. I do not care what others think. I play to
an audience of one and that one loves me and desires to eat with
me.
Each and every day we have the opportunity to dine with Christ.
When we read and study His Holy Word we eat of the Bread of
Life which is the sustaining power for life. When we eat His
Holy meal, we are reminded that our sins are forgiven and our
names are written in the Book of Life.
It also reminds us that while we eat and dine with Him here on
earth some day we are going to sit with Him at the eternal
banquet where Isaiah said there will be the best of meats and
the finest of wine:
But here
he on this mountain, God of the Angel Armies
will throw a feast for all the people of the world, a
feast of the finest foods, a feast with vintage wines,
a feast of seven courses, a feast lavish with gourmet
desserts. And here on this mountain, God will
banish the pall of doom hanging over all peoples,
the shadow of doom darkening all nations.
Y es, he’ll banish death forever. And God will wipe
the tears from every face. He’ll remove every sign
of disgrace from his people, wherever they are. Yes!
God says so!
Also at that time, people will say,
sa “Look at what’s
happened! This is our God! We waited for him and
he showed up and saved us! This God, the one we
waited for! Let’s celebrate, sing the joys of his
salvation!”
Isaiah 25:6-9
I can’t wait for that blessed banquet!
What a comfort to know that even though we bear the title
sinner, Jesus still desires to dine with us while we sojourn here
on earth. Then through His amazing work at Calvary’s cross
and through His glorious resurrection we will feast with him
not as sinners but as saints of God in the glories of the eternity
of heaven.
What comfort it gives to me, and I hope to you that Jesus
delights to eat with sinners.
73