Swing Wide Open the Doors
Open Your Bible
Luke 14:7-24
BY Raechel Myers
Text: Luke 14:7-24
But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you.
– Luke 14:13-14a, ESV
“You become like the people you hang around.”
Oh man, I cannot tell you how many times I heard my parents caution me as a kid: Make wise choices. Be a leader. You will become like the people you hang around.
Y’all, I have spent the better part of my life being very purposeful about hanging around the right people. I have literally stepped back and asked myself, “Who do I want to become like?” and then positioned myself as closely to them as possible. Seriously, for better or worse, I chose smart, disciplined friends in high school and college. When my husband and I moved to Nashville, we picked a church congregation that we saw loved God and each other well. And, I have intentionally made friends with women who are great wives and mothers because I want to be those things, too.
It’s not a bad plan. It’s kind of a great plan—and I bet I’m not the only one whose parents trained her to live life with intention. If we’re honest, it’s likely saved us a ton of heartache along the way, right? But are we missing out on something if we only ever try to protect and improve ourselves? If we are constantly endeavoring to become something good, are we making our lives about us and missing out on something great?
You know who didn’t take my parents’ advice? Jesus.
Take a look at Christ’s social game plan in His own words from Luke 14:
“But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place.”
“Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled.”
“When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid.”
“Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.”
“Go out to the highways and hedges and compel the people to come in, that my house may be filled.”
Jesus spent a good bit of time with the people we tend to avoid. He hung out with Judgy McJudgerson, Cheatsy McStealsyoursilver and Glutton McGlutterpants. (Yep, Glutterpants.) He sat down with the people who weren’t like Him and with those who had little to offer. In short, He broke all the rules. It’s not that He wasn’t intentional, it’s just that He had different intentions.
There’s a bigger picture here. Bigger than our “plan your days” and “organize your life” selves remember to consider sometimes. We can get very caught up in “who should I invite to my fall party?” because “I hope they invite me to their Christmas party!” and we fail to remember the enormous opportunity—and calling!—we have been given to look up from our contact lists and reciprocal relationships and simply ask: Who can I love today who may have nothing to offer me in return?
If all my friends are just like me, then when I look at them I’m only seeing a reflection myself. But when I find company in people who are not like me—those outside my inner circle (a circle I love and need)—I may see less of myself in them, but I’ll also have clearer eyes for spotting Christ.
If Jesus threw a dinner party, those with nothing to repay Him would be at the top of His guest list. He would not only invite Mrs. McGlutterpants, she would be the first to receive an invitation! We know this because He does the same for us—poor, needy sinners that we are—when He welcomes us to the Great Banquet and exalts us to the seat of honor.
Isn’t it just like Jesus to make us squirm? Isn’t it just like the Kingdom of Heaven to flip-flop our paradigms—changing the game while giving us new eyes for the heart of God Himself?
Girls, let’s go to the Father now and ask Him to soften our hearts to Christ’s teaching. Then let’s model the Great Inviter, match our intentions with His, and swing wide open the doors of our hearts and homes to those who are like us and those who aren’t. This is the way of the Kingdom. This is hospitality.
143 thoughts on "Swing Wide Open the Doors"
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giving when we cannot get something back. it’s so funny that the older I get, its easier to mask selfishness, insecurity, and neediness in “hospitality”. being nice to only people who look good, seem better, and are in the “right” clique isn’t want I was called to do. instead loving those who need it, reaching out to the lonely, the outcast, that’s the call. and in doing so not only do I get to reflect Christ’s love, but I also draw closer to him and understand more deeply how he did that for me.
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Wow.. It’s true. I feel so convicted by your words.
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this hit me….. ” Girls, let’s go to the Father now and ask Him to soften our hearts to Christ’s teaching. Then let’s model the Great Inviter, match our intentions with His, and swing wide open the doors of our hearts and homes to those who are like us and those who aren’t. This is the way of the Kingdom. This is hospitality.”
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This devotional series is really hitting home with me..
Every time I read it, I can only think about my sister. She and I have gone through the same pattern our entire lives..Not speaking, good friends, argument, not speaking… She has Borderline Personality Disorder, is a very devout Atheist (even runs a podcast with a friend to mock Christians and “prove Christ wrong”), and is now part of a “burlesque” dance group, which to me and my husband looks a lot more like stripping (I wish I were kidding…). I have nothing in common with her anymore since I found Christ and all of my old habits and hobbies have gone away. It’s so hard to talk to her because we have nothing to talk about. I don’t want to hear about her podcast or her “dancing” because I don’t agree with either of them and I know it will only cause an argument.
During my childhood, she would frequently physically beat me and harrass me, and this continued up through my preteen years, when her BPD was nearly uncontrollable. I’ve since forgiven her and tried to move on from that, but I have never gotten an apology or any form of admittance that she was wrong from her. Instead, she laughs whenever it’s brought up. We currently are going through the “not speaking” stage of the cycle I mentioned earlier because I just can’t take it anymore.. I cant take the refusal to apologize, the numerous comments and jokes against my Faith and who I am, what I believe, etc. I can’t take her constantly being absolutely cruel to me, making fun of my weight or hair or outfit or whatever she deems less than perfect at that time. I can’t take seeing pictures of her on a stage in nothing but pasties and a thong and have her say it’s a good thing. But I also cant take my mom constantly harassing me to try and make amends with her, forgive her and “just move on and let it go because she’s my sister.”
So yet, when I read this, I always find myself praying and asking Jesus what He would want me to do in this situation…Would He want me to endure the treatment and negativity from her in order to be a source of light for God in her life? Or would He want me to surround myself with positive people and disconnect from her? He Himself surrounded Himself with EVERYONE, including those who were the gravest of all sinners. My sister does not surround herself with any Christians. Does He want me to be the one that she does?If you’ve taken the time to read this I really appreciate it.. Please pray that God is able to speak clearly to me about what He wants me to do and where He wants me to be..I really dont know. God bless all of you x
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I will pray for you. All of us have complicated relationships in our lives. Someone told me one time “people are messy”. It’s true. I will pray that God will give you guidance then courage to obey.
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Jessica, I think the Lord is so honored that you want to serve him better and are taking these devotions to heart. Sometimes we have to set boundaries with people that we love to protect our hearts and other times God is calling us to be that light to them. It doesn’t sound to me like you’re quite in the place where you can be that person for her. But that doesn’t mean you never will be. One thing that I have learned about forgiveness is that it’s not always necessarily the other person asking for forgiveness but often times it’s us making the choice even if it’s daily, to forgive them. And in forgiving them we’re not saying that what they’ve done to us is right, but we’re saying that we want
to let that go so that God can continue the work he’s doing in our own hearts. sometimes it helps to remember the cross. If Jesus was willing to die for you and her then we really can’t hold grudges or unforgiveness towards her. I know it’s got to be so tough. I will keep you in my prayers. But I believe God really wants to set you free from that burden of of wanting on forgiveness from her. Often times it’s when we surrender it that God will honor us with that forgiveness. ❤️ -
it is so hard when the ones we love are the ones who hurt us the most. I will def pray that God finds a way to restore your relationships, if anyone can do it, HE can!
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Sometimes when I read the gospels I’m overwhelmed with how much emphasis there is on relationships, both the ‘right’ ones (in our worldly eyes) and the ones with those who our parents may not have approved of. It is overwhelming because when I look at my life, no matter how much room I’ve been to this point for relationships and throwing the doors of my heart and home open, I still see so much busyness and stuff holding onto me, keeping my head and heart form truly embracing these commands. But the kingdom of God has never had anything to do with stuff, big houses, smart clothes, allllllll the things! It’s always been about relationships, first with Chrisf and then with alllllll the people. Ugh! I’m so humbled and convicted by this thought.
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