What millions of people simply miss is as uniquely important as having a life!
Yet this reveals what applies to every human being on Earth.
To start, here is a brief plain language perspective to think about:
First, someone, centuries ago, sat at a table and shared the most important information to all others sitting with him. Regardless of the different kinds of people at the table, what was being shared was of the greatest importance then—and frankly greatest importance to everyone today!
Second, a group of other persons (‘students’) visited villages in their country to share the same information as was shared at the table. Some villagers accepted what was shared—others rejected. Acceptance led to visitation with hospitable villagers. But when rejected, the students departed with a gesture simply representing their moving on and away from folks they were rejected by. No hatred, they just moved on to the next village.
What do you think about this example? Sharing this way may be decent, objective, and open to anyone. Depending on what is shared, accepting something is just up to listening and responding.
Next, take a deeper look beyond the plain language above. This might relate to politics, or promotion of commercial offers, or possibly what people might think about what life is and what the future will bring!
What people believe and how that applies to daily life and what they share with other people is the purpose of this write up.
Lets step back a moment and recognize today some people hold religious beliefs while others might be described as secular or non-believers.
There is a distinction between religious persons who are gentle in their approach to sharing what they believe, as opposed to others who hold to religion but are adamant, biased, and critical of all other believers and non-believers.
Key Point: Sitting at the table and sharing is caring without oppressive bias and is more gentle to help everyone understand what is being shared.
The Main Point here is what occurs at the table. Also, instead of opposition to anyone an offer is made to everyone—and today that would include every person of all lifestyles, cults, cultures, nationalities, and any other type you can think of … including you.
Important Distinction: Add to this how certain religious and non-religious persons hold bias and even discrimination against others who do not believe or behave as they do. Furthermore, and very important, certain religious persons may be so subjective in their opinions, that they miss the importance of an open table for everyone on Earth!
Think about how this relates to the past but also exposes something every person needs to consider today:
Revised Title : Sitting At The Table with Messiah and When Apostles Come By
1 ) A biblical account of Messiah sitting at a table with tax collectors and sinners is found in the Book of Matthew 9:10-17 (the text of this is at the end of this article). One initial point is Jesus spoke to people with mercy and gave a call for a response—known as repentance. This frankly is Messiah sharing what the gospel offers. He is pointing to the most important offer life has for all of us! Simply put, turning to a relationship with the Lord also leads to life after this life.
Interesting is that the tax collectors might symbolize all kinds of governments and government workers, but the others, noted as sinners, include everyone of any type of person.
Also, many people who call themselves religious and Christian may fail to recognize that everyone, you too, have been given life (i.e., given your existence!) and in a sense we all sit at that table. So if you downplay, discriminate, differentiate from other people, you miss the point Messiah shares with everyone—no matter what you think of other people. Others include their sex, ancestry, current beliefs, nationality, or any life style or habits that you may not understand or embrace. But life from the Lord was given to all—regardless of what we see or might think today.
And sin? Yes: to make mistakes and at times have poor behavior, is something every human must acknowledge. Believers in Messiah don’t always have perfect days, but by faith recognize a need to step away from sin and toward growing their relationship with Messiah. Repentance is that step forward to the vital relationship.
So, if a ‘supposed believer’ fails to recognize the importance of this simple example of sharing, then something incredible is missed. Pressing hard on other people is not as gentle as a conversation over a meal and allowing for a nice merciful discussion. Heavy handed religion is not found at that table and sharing the Gospel needs love, encouragement, and a joyful reflection of the importance of repenting and gaining a wonderful relationship now and forever more—after all Messiah also emphasizes life now can go on eternally if we understand the main biblical message about the future.
2) What is also important to understand is what Messiah’s students (disciples, apostles) did when going out to bring forth the message Messiah shared (see this below in Matthew 10: 5b -15). Again, in simplest understanding, they went village to village to share. When there was acceptance of what they let people know, they stayed a while. But if rejected they did something many today fail to reference in a way relevant to today—they departed and on the way they did as instructed by Jesus: “shake off the dust from your feet.”
Today, again simply put, the world is inhabited by two different groups of humans. One group has repented and tries to live the most appropriate way each and every day. The others may come to repentance, but until they do they have not accepted the message shared by Messiah in a way that has led to engaging in the process of repentance.
Notice the Apostles, when shaking off the dust, simply leave some people behind as they are. They were given the message. That is all the Apostles were to do. The rejection was left as is and without retaliation or any hostility. Giving the message is more to do with God’s love and an opportunity and if not accepted, well then in the future God will determine what becomes of those who reject. In other words, people who say they are religious, evangelical, fundamental, but also take measures to oppose, reject, hate, or pose anything negative to others miss what is shared at the table and miss illustrating what is a lasting lifetime with Messiah.
CONCLUSION:
While so much else is contained in the Bible, this example of sharing is a most important point especially when illustrated in simplest form. Some people will never think of any importance to hearing about the Messiah and His message to all humanity. However, everyone alive today, regardless of their lifestyle and way they think and regard life, everyone has an opportunity to sit at the table and listen. The bottom line is you, and everyone, gets to hear about what Messiah wants you to consider. It is then up to you to accept or reject.
To keep this conclusion simple there is a web page that offers information related to the Gospel, a pathway forward fr this life, and related information. Take a look and learn a bit more at:
https://windowview.org/convrg/pgs/cvrg_master_list.html
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Referenced Passages from Scriptures:
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Matthew 9:10-17 (NKJV) (Also in Mark 2:13-17; Luke 5:27-32)
Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
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Matthew 10: 5b -15
Sending Out the Twelve (Also in Mark 6:7–13; Luke 9:1–6)
These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying:
“Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.
“Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. And when you go into a household, greet it. If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!
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