Jesus said, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Luke 14:12-14

What if your friends and family ARE the poor, crippled, lame and blind?

We have a saying around here: Jesus will take you just as you are but He loves you enough not to leave you that way. I am so blessed to be around men and women who are the addicted and afflicted of society. They are the lame, blind and crippled of our day. They are my friends and family.

There is a special reward that comes with loving the addicted. I can’t explain it but some how at the end of the day when our resources are tapped out, our energy is exhausted and I’m spiritually and emotional depleted, somehow life springs up. It shows up as an unspeakable joy, an unexpected donation, a burst of energy, a testimony from someone or a thousand other ways. Jesus said “They cannot repay you” but “you will be repaid” with resurrection! The definition of resurrection is a rising again, as from decay, disuse, a revival. I believe that resurrection is not only reserved for the second advent of Christ’s return but God makes it available to us everyday. A foretaste of what’s to come.

I know what the apostle Paul said to be true: “The Spirit of the One who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you. So the God who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your bodies, which are going to die. He will do this by the power of his Spirit, who lives in you.” Romans 8:11

Thank you to all of you who serve the poor, help the needy and befriend sinners