The Name Card at the Family Table

By: Tim Brygger

The faithful son said:

“Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders […]. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.”

“Son”, he said to him, “you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”

– Luke 15:29-32 [HCSB]

Let’s step into the world of this parable for a moment.

On the Father’s estate there is a feasting hall. Can you envision it? It sits atop rolling hills, green with crops. Many family meals have taken place there. A lot of laughter, history, and shared memories.

When the wayward son comes home, all he hopes for is to eat with the farm hands. He knows he deserves less. He doesn’t have the courage to hope to be recognized as family.

But what does he find?

His Father has a place set for him at the family’s feasting table. His name card is still there.

Despite his poor decisions and his outright betrayal of his Father and family – there is still a setting at the table with his name card at it. And the feast is to celebrate him.

We might think choices we’ve made keep us out of God’s favor.

Or that our hardships and difficulties are His judgment on us.

That’s not what Jesus is telling us in this parable.

We can be for each other – and for the world around us – if our home offers a sampling of that feast our Father offers. A place where each person is celebrated for the name God gave them – not the name they’ve given themselves.

Take a moment to let the gravity of this sink in. With eyes closed, ask Him to give you a vision of your place at His table.

Next, be hospitable in the same way as our Father.

Tip for Today: Invite 1 person/family to your house for coffee or a meal. Set their "place" at the table and offer hospitality. Invite them to the feast of God’s Kingdom – on earth as it is in Heaven – making sure they know: their place at the table is always waiting for them.