The Steak House vs the Waffle House

The Calling of Matthew

…10Later, as Jesus was dining at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.…

In my life i have been blessed to eat and fancy high end restaurants and I occasionally dine at the more common Waffle House. Yes, the Waffle House has a reputation for people and diners from the lower end of the Socioeconomic spectrum.  But, as much as I love fine dining, I have never had a bad meal at a Waffle House. Additionally, I have had great times of fellowship and witness at the Waffle House. 

One of my favorite Jazz Artists is Gregory Porter and one of his songs is titled "Take it to the Alley". Gregory sings the fact that when Christ returns for His kingdom, you will find Him in the alley. Gregory sings the following: 

Take me to the alley

Take me to the afflicted ones

Take me to the lonely ones
That somehow lost their way

Let them hear me say
I am your friend
Come to my table
Rest here in my garden
You will have a pardon

In the Gospel of Matthew 9: 10-12, we see Jesus eating with what the rich and educated people believed to be the wrong kind of people, the poor, the unclean, those that they considered to be sinners. We read in this text that Jesus states: "It is not the healthy that need a doctor, but the sick....

Beloved, where else should we as people of God be? Who should we welcome to God's Kingdom? Who should we tell about Jesus Christ? Have you ever been to the Waffle House in the middle of the night and eaten with those that are homeless, those that are spending time drinking coffee as to get out of the cold, because they have no home, no shelter? Have you spoken to those sitting in the Waffle House in the middle of the night, because they are stranded and looking to move farther down the road? 

Yes, where is the emergency room of Jesus Christ needed? In the restaurant of $50.00 -$100.00 steaks or in the all-night diner, with the coffee pot always on? Matthew is telling us that Christ is for all, and that we are His Gospel Paramedics that need to be available to calls and God's Body of Christ presence in the alley, the mission, the Waffle Houses, and the yes, the fine dining restaurants. 

Enjoy your fancy meals but go to the diner every so often. You will be glad that you did.  You will know that God exists there as well, and that He has called you for the lonely, the poor, the homeless, the addicted, and those that enjoy a good waffle and a cup of hot coffee.

This is the day that the Lord has made. Pastor Tim.