The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Like Kings"
When noted British actor David Niven died, the porters at Heathrow Airport in London sent the largest wreath of flowers received by the funeral home in honor of Niven. With the arrangement came a card on which the inscription read…
"To David Niven, who made porters feel like kings."
I do not know if Mr. Niven was a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. I do know, however that his treatment of the porters provides a vivid reminder of another notable Figure of history:
"And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto His disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?" (Matthew 9:10-11).
Why did the Lord Jesus Christ eat with those who others avoided? The love of God that led and motivated His every action provides the answer. The Savior cared for the castigated. Those who mattered to no one else bore much meaning to Him. He delighted in fellowship with the downtrodden, and ever sought opportunity to receive the rejected. This was who He was in heart. This is who He remains in heart. And this is who He will be in our hearts as we trust and submit to Him.
"When thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind" (Luke 14:13).
According to Jewish understanding of that day, the Lord's command meant, "Call the cursed." Like Mephibosheth of old, seemingly rejected by God because of his sad and lame condition, the Lord calls to His table those who seemingly have no place there (II Samuel 9:1-13). Indeed, grace makes a place for the undeserving and unworthy, which refers to to all of us.
"All we like sheep have gone astray… All have sinned and come short of the glory of God… There are none righteous, no, not one. There are none that understandeth, there are none that seeketh after God" (Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:10-11; 23).
I wonder if David Niven, despite his fame, fortune, and accomplishments, realized he was no better or worse than those who served him at Heathrow Airport? Maybe so, and we do well to join the porters in honoring the legacy of his respect for others. We also do well to remember that the Christ who dwells in us ever seeks the wandering, wounded, and wayward sheep who others would despise and reject. If the truth be told, we are all that sheep. We are all Mephibosheth. And we are all those to whom God so undeservedly shows mercy and lovingkindness. This is grace, the grace of the Lord Jesus revealed to us, and then revealed through us as He walks in us to find others to bless, others to love, and others to treat like kings.
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because he hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised."
(Luke 4:18)
Weekly Memory Verse
"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."
(I Corinthians 6:20)
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