I was eating with a family several years ago. They had five boys, ages seven to eighteen. I noticed on the wall of the kitchen by the table was a hand painted sign that said in big, bold letters, “Momma’s Table Rules.” One, No hats worn at the table or in the house; Two, o bare chested boys at the table. A shirt is required to eat momma’s cooking; Three, No dirt allowed. Hands and face must be washed and cleaned; Four, You do have a choice. Eat what Momma cooks or don’t eat; Five, No cell phones, Gameboys, or any other electronic devices allowed at momma’s table. I liked her rules. It was clear that you had to clean up, dress up, and straighten up if you wanted to eat at her table. But listen, to feast at God’s table, you don’t have to get cleaned up, dressed up, or straightened up. All you have to do is show up. You are invited to come to God just as you are. The words of the great hymn say, “Just as I am, tossed about with many a conflict, with many a doubt, fighting fears within and without, Oh Lamb of God, I come.” We can come to God just as we are and if we need a little cleaning up, He will get to that later. It doesn’t matter what you have done, you are welcome in His presence. He wants us to know that if we come as we are that He will show us a better way to do life, and He will show us the way to life forever through the love of Jesus Christ.
– Dr. Tim Thompson