Devotional thought very appropriate considering today’s sermon.

Yesterday, a pastor-acquaintance and I were discussing the above question – he asked it – without the “or”.  And since I dislike being caught between two choices, I came up with a third option.  🙂

I decided, that if we are talking spiritually, I would not choose the stand or the supermarket…well – here are parts of the discussion:

Me:  How about a inner city mission’s foodbank?

Pr. J –  I was talking spiritually and metaphorically, but wonderful, brother! 🙂

Me   – Actually, I was as well…

None of us can afford the hot-dog, never mind the caviar and fine wines..  All of us get nervous and shuffle – ashamed of our need as we approach the table of mercy… And we are all served what we need to live..

Pr J   –  All right, how about in terms of outreach and mission: are you serving a limited selection to a select crowd, or drawing on a wide variety of resources to serve a variety of needs? “You” in the plural sense, of course. 🙂

Me:   Again, if I can use the mission analogy….

We are in the business of serving only one thing – the Body and Blood of Jesus, broken and shed for the forgiveness of sin.   Some are served as they are broken and homeless, desperately hungry and yet so in despair and trapped by shame… Some are served by Christ as He shares His ministry with them, allowing them to serve His body to the people, like them who are broken… and even as we serve… we are fed..as His mercy and the joy of knowing it is passed through us to others. Somehow. miraculously perhaps – we are fed and sustained not as we eat – but as we serve…

There may be different place settings, small missions and large ones, some may have old records playing while others have bands, some may have a nurse or doctor there as well, some education for the kids… but the meal is really what matters…

And it always sustains…
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Now, this was an on the fly, not thought out discussion.  But I like it – and it works well with the book I am writing, and how God brings us together in a feast we are all afraid to participate in.  We are the beggers, the homeless, the ones who feel awkward in the room… then as we realize how the host has made us welcome, we welcome others.

that’s the church, whether the mega church, or the micro, contemporary or traditional (whatever those mean) or contradorary…

It is, as a prof once said – the feast that God gathers His people to, as He has for 2000 years…

So come – join the feast!