A Sinner's Table

And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. (Luke 19:7 KJV)

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10 KJV)

And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Mark 2:16-17 KJV)

We teach our children to be wary of strangers for good and sufficient reasons. As adults, we are painfully aware that there are people in this world who would intentionally harm them. If we could, we would set our children apart and build a hedge around them as it was written that God did for Job:

Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? (Job 1:10a KJV)

There comes a time when our hedges are opened. When they move out into the world. We’ve shown them Ephesians 6:13-18 and explained how each will provide His protection. We’ve also taught them Matthew 28:19-20, designed to place them as guests at sinners’ tables. They have an excellent example in doing so.

The concept of praying for sinners in a comfortably hedged home or church is more to our liking. We pray diligently for those described in Romans 10:14-15, but never expect it to be us or our loved ones.

Romans is a call to believe. Evangelicals speak of the Roman Road leading to Christ, that the verses from this one book point to the strait gate: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: (Matthew 7:13 KJV)

We should all be prepared to walk along that road. Both accepting and giving guidance to the way that has been shown to us through Christ's example, even as a sinner's guest.

When you do sit at as a sinner’s guest, will it be as an example of Christ’s love for them? Knowing the possible result could be a repeat of Christ’s pronouncement at that table: And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, (Luke 19:9a KJV)