PULL UP A CHAIR!

Luke 15:1-10 NASB

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near Jesus to listen to Him. [2] And both the Pharisees and the scribes began to complain, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” [3] And so He told them this parable, saying, [4] “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the other ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? [5] And when he has found it, he puts it on his shoulders, rejoicing. [6] And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost!’ [7] I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. [8] “Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? [9] And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the coin which I had lost!’ [10] In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

 

Have you ever been to visit someone and was invited to sit down?  "Pull up a chair" is an idiomatic expression inviting someone to join a group by sitting down with them. It can be used both literally and figuratively: Literally It means to physically move a chair closer to where others are sitting and join them. Figuratively simply means to join a conversation or activity, even if you don't move a chair.

If you enter a room and someone says, "Pull up a chair," it means they want you to join them and participate in the discussion. If you are told to pull up a chair, it’s indicative that you’ve been accept everyone, and can build relationships.

When growing up, my parents drummed into us the importance of not pulling up a chair at a table we weren’t invited to, not seating in a chair not meant for us or going and remaining somewhere we weren’t invited to or welcomed. That lesson remains with me until today.

The enemy has no right to sit at our tables but some of us personally and physically invited and pulled up a seat for him to occupy.

Being included at a table is a big deal. Sometimes, being asked to pull up a chair at a certain table makes all the difference in some people’s lives because seating at the right table may just be the place where we hear what we need to hear, know what needs knowing, both people, places and things and making far-reaching networks and connections. But only if we pull up a chair at the right table.

The enemy thinks almost as we think sometimes. “If I sit at the right table, yours or those close to you, I will find all I need to deal with and destroy you”.

Pulling up a chair is used to emphasize the importance of reaching out, accepting everyone. It symbolizes authority, rest, and divine presence. If we pull up a chair at the right table with the right people, we could do more for the Lord.

Certain chairs give us authority: Chairs, like thrones, represent power and governance, such as God's supreme authority.

Some other chairs offer us rest, that symbolizes comfort and peace, reflecting spiritual rejuvenation and safety within God's presence as seen in Psalm 23:2.

Pulling up spiritual chairs is spending time in God’s Divine Presence: Chairs can indicate a connection to the divine, as seen with the Ark of the Covenant.

Have you ever pulled up a chair at the wrong table with the wrong people? This is one of the best and/or worst things that can happen in anyone. It can be a make it or break it time. The same people who go out of their way to practice the art of hospitality can sometimes make the fatal mistake of snubbing people when it comes to certain discussion at specific tables.  This may be because they think you are less than the, not qualified to be in their midst or don’t have the right connections.

We see the same thing happening with the Pharisees and scribes in our text. They wanted to limit who they would share fellowship. They didn't want to have just anyone "Pull up a chair". They didn't want to eat with "sinners and tax collectors”, nor did they want to talk to them. They believed that God wanted them to stay as far away from such people as possible. They believed that if God Himself was on the earth He would act the same way.

We must be careful inviting ourselves or others to pull up a chair where we shouldn’t because it's tempting to get all high and mighty and think that if we had been there, we would have made a place for those tax collectors and sinners. Pull up a chair wherever the Lord leads you to make a difference for Christ.

PRAYER: Lord, help me to reflect and ponder on my faith and how I pull people to you, help me to always have room at my table so that anyone can pull up a chair and join me in Jesus’ name, amen.

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/womenoflight/episodes/PULL-UP-A-CHAIR-e3286h8

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