{"id":837,"date":"2010-08-08T23:18:00","date_gmt":"2010-08-08T23:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.convergingzone.com\/ricciardelli\/a-collection-of-disreputable-guests-by-james-ryle\/"},"modified":"2010-08-08T23:18:00","modified_gmt":"2010-08-08T23:18:00","slug":"a-collection-of-disreputable-guests-by-james-ryle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/robertricciardelli\/ricciardelli\/a-collection-of-disreputable-guests-by-james-ryle\/","title":{"rendered":"A Collection of Disreputable Guests by James Ryle"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>
\u201cJesus and His disciples were at home having supper with a collection of disreputable guests. Unlikely as it seems, more than a few of them had become followers.\u201d<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n
(Mark 2:15, The Message)<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

The generosity of Jesus towards those who were outside the establishment was one of the major rubs against the religious institutions of His day. It is the same in our day as well. Pharisees throughout the ages protest the loudest, and act the most vengeful, when others gain access to God without having \u201cpaid their dues\u201d in accordance with what others deem to be appropriate.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
But Jesus did not establish any such protocol or pedigree as this. His word of invitation is always, \u201cIf any man thirsts, let him come unto Me and drink.\u201d He also said, \u201call ye who labor and are heavy burdened, come unto Me and find rest.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
And come they do \u2014 by the millions. As unlikely as it seems.<\/span><\/div>\n
And once we come to Him, He fills us with His spirit and gives us a love for one another that compells us to deny ourselves for the sake of others. So there is no place in His kingdom for that selfish spirit that acts only out of independence, nor that religious spirit that acts always out of a need to be in control.<\/span><\/div>\n
\"pass\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
The marvel, the mystery, and the majesty of Christ\u2019s Kingdom is precisely this \u2013 that He brings graceful order to a collection of disreputable guests, once they become His followers\u2026unlikely as it seems.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Perhaps you are hearing the invitation even now. Maybe you have come upon this page by taking the wrong exit on the information highway, and you feel that following Jesus for you as a very unlikely thing. Many others have felt the same. But something inside urged them to trust Jesus, and now its your turn.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
If you trust Him with all your heart and become His follower, as unlikely as it may seem to you \u2014 you\u2019ll eat many a fine meal with Him, even though a few of the more religious of folk may \u00a0protest your presence at the table.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Just smile real big and say, \u201cPass the potatoes, please.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cJesus and His disciples were at home having supper with a collection of disreputable guests. Unlikely as it seems, more than a few of them had become followers.\u201d\u00a0 (Mark 2:15, The Message) The generosity of Jesus towards those who were outside the establishment was one of the major rubs against the religious institutions of His […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1596,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-837","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ricciardelli"],"yoast_head":"\nA Collection of Disreputable Guests by James Ryle<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"\u201cJesus and His disciples were at home having supper with a collection of disreputable guests. 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