We seem to be more comfortable with God the judge than God the party giver. In a courtroom things are cut and dried and we can often anticipate the outcome and are too happy to cheer at a guilty verdict. But God the party-planner pulls out all the stops and has surprise after surprise up His holy sleeve.
Where He is he host, blind eyes can healed. Murderers and adulterers and addicts can be forgiven. And so can gossipers and over-indulgers. People get launched into unexpected careers that they had no vision of or belief that it was possible---a fisherman gets handed the keys of a kingdom. But equally surprising is that so do you and I.
We get to set about our days bringing the party to earth. What else would you call it when the password has been given to you and the details whispered in your ear and the invitation to bring along everyone you want? You get to tell anyone hungry that the chef has arrived and the meal is ready and that there is a place waiting for them. The doctor will be there, to heal everything they knew was wrong and some things that they didn’t even have on their list of ailments. The gatekeeper will have in hand the key not only to let them in, but for the lock on their shackles and cuffs--and any attendee will be able to dance the night away, and then walk home without taking their chains back with them. The party will have such a festive light that it will forever burn inside of them once they’ve been there, and it will be impossible for any darkness to put out its wick ever again.
Not only that, but from now on, anyone who comes to the party will also become a proclaimer and invitation-giver themselves (for the party won’t be stopping anytime soon). They will be able to comfort those who are in dark corners doubting if festivities exist anywhere. They will carry around the party favors they receive every time they return to His events and fill their pockets with them to share with those who haven’t yet heard. The take home souvenirs are not cheap paper and plastic trinkets, but the gold of the King’s treasury. Those who carry them to share become recognizable as they proclaim good news, bring comfort to the hurting in their community, are known for their generosity, sit with those who have lost hope and tend to the small wick damp from tears until the warmth of truth dries it out a bit and love shared rekindles it.
They are known as being people of hope, not of despair, and they are rebuilders of even ancient ruins. (Isaiah 61:1-4, Luke 4:18-21)
The party is on! The music is playing (you’ve probably heard it on quiet nights)! Spread the word. It’s “come as you are.” And He’ll be delighted you are there.
Photograph from morguefile by violetdragonfly
1 comment:
Pound Sand Ministries, a division of the Shadow Church think this is wondrous!We are forwarding this to the headquarters of the First Church of the Rebuked Brethren for further dissemination.
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