A Place at the Table
One of the greatest fears people experience is the fear of not belonging. We all know what it feels like to be left out, overlooked, or uninvited. Yet the gospel tells the story of a God who continually invites people to His table.
This Sabbath we gather for Communion, a service that reminds us of the incredible grace of Jesus Christ. On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus shared a meal with His disciples. What makes that evening remarkable is not merely the symbols of the bread and the cup, but the people sitting around the table.
Peter was there, though he would soon deny Christ. Thomas was there, though he would later struggle with doubt. The other disciples were there, though they would eventually scatter in fear. Even Judas was present, though Jesus knew he would betray Him.
Yet Jesus welcomed them all.
The story of Communion is ultimately the story of God’s grace. Christ does not invite us because we have achieved perfection. He invites us because He loves us. The cross demonstrates that salvation has never been based upon human merit but upon divine mercy.
As Seventh-day Adventists, we practice open Communion because we believe Christ’s invitation is broader than our own limitations. The Lord’s table belongs to Jesus, not to us. Every repentant believer who desires a deeper relationship with Christ is welcome to participate.
Before the Communion meal, Jesus knelt and washed the disciples’ feet. The King of the universe became a servant. In doing so, He taught that humility, forgiveness, and selfless love are at the heart of the Christian life. The ordinance of humility reminds us that we stand on equal ground at the foot of the cross.
This Sabbath, as we participate in Communion, let us remember that we are not simply looking back to Calvary. We are celebrating a living Savior who continues to intercede for us today. We are also looking forward to the day when Jesus will gather His redeemed people around His heavenly table.
Until that glorious day, may we accept His invitation, receive His grace, and extend that same grace to others.
I look forward to worshiping with you as we remember the One who prepared a place for us at His table.
Pastor Raul Alvarez
Lubbock Seventh-day Adventist Church
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