One Sunday some travelers wandered into a church. They were believers seeking fellowship on their journey.
The singing started before a formal introduction of the assembly. The visitors had never seen this before. It made them uneasy. What they didn’t realize was this singing was the call for saints to gather. As the wanderers came home, the assembly grew and so did the unifying voice of God’s church. This was family reunion day. This was a day to love and be loved after a week in the war zone.
The unorthodox preacher got up and welcomed everyone and assigned duties for the day.
Next, the man who got up to lead the communion feast was wearing clothing they were not accustomed to. They wondered why he was so disrespectful as to dress in jeans and tennis shoes. What they didn’t hear in the message was that five years ago this man was lost to hell. What they missed in his appearance were the tears he shed at the cross. What they missed was how desperately thankful this man was for grace.
The men who were serving the feast this day were not clothed in “Sunday best.” They wondered, why such a lackadaisical attitude was tolerated. What they didn’t realize was that each of those men serving were true servants clothed with Christ. Each one of them was a first generation disciple.
One of them was weeks away from heart surgery trying to mend the years of abuse to his body. One of them was covered in tattoos and carrying the burden of family members not following Christ. The older gentleman on the right sat with tired dignity. He bore the lines of man who raised seven children and gave refuge to hundreds more in the system. The fourth servant was nothing more than a boy who looked more like he was heading to gym class than church. But this boy and his enthusiasm for serving the Lord’s supper to his family was palpable.
The visitors were discouraged and disgusted by what they saw. They left before the service was over. They left before hearing the rest of the story.
That was today. That was my church.
But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Cor. 6:7
