But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests.
-Luke 14:10
This weekend, our family went to a wedding for my cousin. We arrived half an hour early with three kids in tow, along with three little pants/vest/tie suits for them and dress clothes for my husband and I. Of course, with half an hour, we should have plenty of time to get ready and get seated.
Anyone who has kids just laughed. Seriously? Thirty minutes to get children into Sunday clothes? Not to mention both adults. No matter how spacious the public bathroom, you simply can't accomplish this feat. It's like trying to herd cats to cross a river...nearly impossible.
So, very soon before the service was to start, we had dropped off the two littlest at the nursery and had the grade-schooler in tow. We signed in the guest book. Our eldest was so excited to see a wedding. He'd never been to one before. (Well, not one he was old enough to remember.) And so I was disheartened when one of the ladies near the guest book table asked if we'd head over to a specific side so the crowd would be balanced. And I'm not even sure whether it's the bride or groom's side, but of course we'd be happy to that. But then it hit me...
...we took entirely too long to get ready, arrived too late. And we were not going to be able to see very well. Well, that's how it goes sometimes. I'm just a cousin, and I knew my cousin was sure to have many other immediate family and close friends...ones with enough sense to show up earlier...already seated. And the wheels started turning in my head. Maybe if we sat somewhat toward the back, but near the center aisle, then at least we could put the little boy on the outside of the row and he could see the excitement of everyone walking down the aisle, get a good look at the bride as she entered, and maybe even peek his little head out the side of the pew to watch most of the ceremony, even if it was a long way off. Alright...that sounded like a plan.
When we entered the sanctuary, we were met at the door by an usher...the bride's sister's husband. And I was about to open my mouth to ask if we could sit on the aisle at the back when he offered me his arm and said, "You need to come up here. There's a special place reserved for you." I was so grateful and overjoyed about this. We were walked right down to the third row, past all the friends and more extended family and other acquaintances, seated next to another cousin and her family. We could not have asked for a better seat. We were able to see everything, even the expression on people's faces. Our son watched the entire thing with intense attention, absorbing all the excitement.
That's how it is with God. When we come to God, we're hoping humbly that He'll just give us a seat. Maybe we can get somewhere in the venue or at least in the vicinity of His love. If we can just get into the party, after all our history, we'd be content to just sit as a wallflower and be thankful to be there or maybe just edge a little closer so we can get a little glimpse of the action. But God doesn't work that way. When we approach God, He greets us with open arms. He won't let us sit off over at the fringes of His love. No matter our background, God has prepared a place specifically for us. No matter what we've done, He says to us, "Friend, move up to a better place."
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