Being invited over to dinner at the Klausman household is serious business. First and foremost, life is so busy and schedules always seem to be packed with church and children activities. Balance is often difficult to find or maintain. However, when the invite for dinner goes out it becomes more than just a casual get together. There is an underlining meaning and purpose to the invite. An invite for dinner to the Klausman house holds this meaning: “I would like to enter into friendship with you”.  In American culture today, dinner seems to have lost its purpose. During the time of Jesus, and still practiced by many Jews today, dinner was intimate and open friendship. Some of the most controversial actions Jesus performed during His time on earth revolved around meals (John 21:13; Luke 14:15-24 Parable; Matthew 26:17-30; Luke 19:1-10). Notice with whom Jesus ate: prostitutes, tax collectors, and beggars. Why was having a meal with this group of people taboo? In His society, meal sharing was a show of trust and forgiveness, among other things. The table was seen as a miniature sanctuary emphasizing friendship. I believe that we are to model this type of trust, forgiveness, and friendship with each other. Who is crying out for dinner? Maybe it is time for you to invite someone to dinner that needs trust and forgiveness. Most importantly, perhaps it is time for us to invite someone into our miniature sanctuary.  Someone who may not only value our friendship but also experience the friendship of Jesus. Who will you invite to your table?

Brad