If you were having Jesus over for dinner, how would you want your house to look? Would you spend all day preparing it to be absolutely perfect? Most pristine decor, bring out your best crystal plates, set up some candles and have a stunning centre piece or would you leave it as is? Few scrap papers thrown around, an old napkin, pens everywhere and a couple stains on the table cloth.
If it were me, I think I'd want it to be picture perfect. Have the sparkling glassware, some greenery draping through the middle of the table, and bring out those fancy napkins, you know, the kind you have to wash in the laundry after.
I'd want everything to go as smooth as possible, make my best dish, light the best scented candle and have the house look as welcoming as possible.
So imagine, you spend countless hours to prep for this one occasion of having Jesus over for dinner when, your favourite set of plates hits the floor and shatters into tiny pieces, the napkins you pull out are stained from your last dinner party and you burn the dish you made in the oven. Now what? I'd probably cancel out of frustration.
I think this is something we do quite often, we'll be on a Jesus high then something goes wrong then we decide to "give up." We feel as though we've messed up too much to come to Him, to still invite Him in.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus didn't die for the beautiful and dressed up you that sits in church on Sundays. He died for the you that cries at nights and makes unforgivable mistakes and goes weeks without thanking him. Jesus wants to be invited into your mess.
He's the type of guy who would eat that burnt, sweet potato casserole with a smile. He's the type who would be honoured to use paper plates and sit at a table full of your mess.
You don't have to set the table before inviting Him in. He accepts the mess, understands it, sympathizes with you and will help you clean it up.