Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“The Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”
NL Daily Devotion for Monday, July 19, 2021
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
It’s a party and everyone’s invited! For some reason I just have this image in my head of some eighties teen flick in which the social elite high school party at the golf-club is crashed by all the misfits and outcasts from the community and there’s a big blow up until the rich kids realize that it was the party’s host that invited them. Maybe that’s just because I was one of the misfits and outcasts who never got invited to the fancy parties.
God’s love in Jesus was just way too big to keep to a select group of people. Paul’s mission was to blow the doors wide open. How are we doing today at proclaiming welcome to anyone and everyone? Do we still want to limit the folks in our church communities to those we feel we’re like? To those who make us feel comfortable and un-challenged? Are we even aware we’re doing it?
Let’s stand up and shout to the world: Come as you are. You are wanted, needed, loved, affirmed, and welcome. Not just in our church buildings, but in our lives and communities. Jesus’ love can’t be limited. Let’s blow the doors wide open.
How do I show welcome to others who are different from me?
![1 Kings 17:1-16 [17-24], God’s Care for the Widow](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b39b61ab48de92d991a40a/bf37035e-33d5-439f-a0d6-a68b02d0f1bc/24-11-03.jpg)
