Christian

Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many.” Luke 14:16 NKJV

It sure is crowded, I thought as I scanned the dining room for a seat at a table. It was lunchtime at a Christian writers’ conference. The dining room had round tables that had room for eight people. Most of the tables had a designated author or agent who would sit at the table, and seven other people could sit at that table with the author or agent. It was a wonderful way to get to know them and make connections with the people at the table.

I found a table with two empty seats and quickly made my way there. I didn’t know the author sitting at this table, but I enjoyed talking to her and the people at the table. While my fellow diners talked to her, I looked around and saw most of the tables had no seats available. If you wanted to sit with that author or agent, you’d have to try another time. 

As I was thinking about that, I realized that there’s always a seat at God’s table. It doesn’t matter how many people are there, He can make room for one more. 

He’s already sent out the invitations and paid the cost. All you must do is accept the invitation and show up as you are right now. No need to shower, clean up, change clothes, or anything. Just come as you are and no matter how many people are at the table, you’ll have His undivided attention. 

Maybe you were at the table, but you left and think you can’t come back. Don’t believe that. You can come back and when you do, God will welcome you as if you’d never left. That’s what he did to the prodigal son. He saw the son a way off and went to meet him. He didn’t lecture him or make him grovel. 

He rejoiced His child was back and threw a feast for him. He’ll do the same for you. 

I finished my meal thankful that I came to the conference to meet all the wonderful people and thankful I have a seat at God’s table. God has a seat reserved especially for you, so stop making excuses and accept His invitation.

Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful.    2 Samuel 11:2 NKJV

When I joined the Army, my recruiter told me I would be fine if I did two things. Be where you’re supposed to be, when you’re supposed to be there, and in the proper uniform. I followed that when I was in the Army, and I had a successful four years. Obviously, there is more required than just showing up, but that was an excellent starting point. It never ceased to amaze me how many soldiers didn’t do that simple thing.

What about when you don’t show up spiritually? When you don’t spend time with God in prayer, devotions, reading your Bible, and going to church. When you don’t do that thing, you know God is telling you to do.

 You open the door to temptation and compromise. You go down a slippery slope, hit rock bottom, and wonder how you could’ve fallen so far. 

King David opened himself up to a great sin when he wasn’t where he was supposed to be, when he was supposed to be there and in the proper uniform. Where should David be instead of walking on his rooftop watching a woman bathe that 2 Samuel 11:2 tells us he was doing? The preceding verse tells us. 

2 Samuel 11:1 says, “It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel: and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.”

David was a king, and he was supposed to be in the field with his army. But he wasn’t, and he saw a beautiful woman who was another man’s wife. He took her and had the man killed. All because he wasn’t where he was supposed to be, when he was supposed to be there, and in the proper uniform. Did he need to be in the field for his army to succeed? No, but that wasn’t the point. 

David caused a lot of pain, grief, and anguish because he wasn’t where he was supposed to be?

 Let’s make sure we are where God asks us to be, doing what He asks us to do.