Diving into the Word results in the sweetest treasures. It is like plucking an apple of Divine Light from the tip top of a tree and biting into the kind, lovely, and appetizing fruits of the scriptures.
You can find out all sorts of things about Jesus from the Bible. Things like what He was like, where He stayed, and who He surrounded Himself with are all packed inside the Truth.
I came across an interesting passage in the book The Ragamuffin Gospel and it caught my attention for two reasons:
1) It shared insight about the motives behind the actions of Jesus.
2) It describes one of my passions.
The passage mainly talked about the idea of breaking bread with other people. Who you share a meal with determines the kind of person you are. It described how in the time of Jesus when one asked an acquaintance to share a meal with them at their home it extended an offer of friendship. Friendship being one of the most powerful human bonds. These people took their meals quite seriously.
The book mentions how Jesus was, at times, thought to be gluttonous because of His excessive meal sharing. You see, Jesus knew what was up. He knew that to share a meal with anyone was showing He forgave them, He accepted them, and He welcomed them.
Now here is the kicker, Jesus dined with the lowest of lows. He invited prostitutes, the hated tax collectors, the poor, the filthy, anyone He could get His righteous hands on. These are described as the ragamuffins. He wanted to share His love with them. God didn’t take on flesh to attend parties of the high and mighty in hopes to climb the social ladder. He came for the sick and discarded.
The book tells the story as such:
The ragamuffins discovered that sharing a meal with Him was a liberating experience of sheer joy. He freed them from self-hatred, exhorted them not to confuse their perception of themselves with the mystery they really were, gave them what they needed more than anything else- encouragement for their lives- and delivered reassuring words such as: “Do not live in fear, little flock; don’t be afraid; fear is useless, what is needed is trust; stop worrying; cheer up-
your sins are forgiven.”
So how does this translate to us? Here I get to dive into number 2 from above. My passion is to be able to have a home open and welcome to anyone and everyone. I want the ragamuffins to gather at my home. We are called to be like Jesus so what better way of exemplifying His love than the fellowship of a meal at my home? The lost and weary travelers, the drunk and confused, and the happy accompaniment all have a seat at my table.
It intrigues me that we all have our own story and I crave to hear the stories of the near and far. We are to die to ourselves and it is my joy to serve others. I exude excitement when given the opportunity to share the story of Christ. It is the most beautiful of stories and it is the Good News! I desire my home to act as a pair of welcoming arms into the warm embrace of the love of Christ. Most importantly, I aspire my home to be wherever my heart is.
I end with this:
If Jesus appeared at your dining room table tonight with knowledge of everything you are and are not, total comprehension of your life story and every skeleton hidden in your closet; if He laid out the real state of your present discipleship with the hidden agenda, the mixed motives, and the dark desires buried in your psyche, you would feel His acceptance and forgiveness.
Elisabeth Hope 
I loved this, and I needed this. Keep writing!!
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