{"id":707,"date":"2026-06-08T06:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T11:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/becomingbridgebuilders.org\/?p=707"},"modified":"2026-06-05T10:54:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T15:54:16","slug":"room-at-the-table","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/becomingbridgebuilders.org\/es\/room-at-the-table\/","title":{"rendered":"Is There Room at the Table for Everyone?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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9 <\/sup><\/em><\/strong>As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, \u201cFollow me.\u201d And he rose and followed him.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

10 <\/sup><\/em><\/strong>And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11 <\/sup><\/strong>And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, \u201cWhy does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?\u201d 12 <\/sup><\/strong>But when he heard it, he said, \u201cThose who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 <\/sup><\/strong>Go and learn what this means: \u2018I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.\u2019 For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

There Is Still Room at the Table<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Long before a famous tech startup redefined hospitality by offering an unexpected room at the table<\/strong>, Jesus was completely transforming how we welcome people into the kingdom of God. \u201cIt started in 2007 with an air mattress in a crap San Francisco apartment. The rent was due, hotels were booked up for a design conference, and two roommates had an idea. What if they charged guests to sleep on the floor? That weekend three strangers stayed in their living room and an industry was quietly born ....\u201d\u00a01<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Those words were the beginning of a podcast with one of the founders of Airbnb. Their idea has helped redefine lodging while traveling. .That small beginning has since grown into a global network with over 8 million active listings and 5 million hosts, spanning more than 150,000 cities in 220 countries according to the official Airbnb Newsroom<\/a>.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Airbnb welcomes people from all walks of life into other people\u2019s homes to stay for a defined period. It\u2019s a great idea that has obviously blossomed. But not without problems. Sometimes the guests take advantage. Google \u201cAirbnb horror stories\u201d and you\u2019ll find no shortage of incidents where things got way out of hand. Property damage, fights, police being called, arrests made, and all sorts of people with less-than-stellar behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Our scripture today hints at the problem of people welcomed by Jesus but quickly judged by others. All that helps us to think about the dynamics of welcome in the kingdom of God!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Unexpected Call: Grace that Transforms (v. 9)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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9\u00a0<\/sup>As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called\u00a0Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him,\u00a0\u201cFollow me.\u201d\u00a0And he rose and followed him.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The call of Matthew is told with striking brevity\u2014just one sentence. His response is just as concise. Jesus calls, and Matthew follows. That\u2019s it. No buildup, no debate, no delay. Jesus simply says, \u201cFollow me,\u201d and Matthew gets up and follows Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It almost feels too simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a world where we analyze every decision, weigh every cost, and negotiate every commitment, Matthew\u2019s response feels abrupt. But that\u2019s the nature of grace\u2014it doesn\u2019t always come with a long explanation; sometimes it comes with a clear invitation. Come, follow me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s like receiving a call that changes your life forever\u2014a job offer you weren\u2019t expecting, a diagnosis that shifts everything, or a voice that says, \u201cThis is your moment.\u201d You don\u2019t always get time to process it fully. You just know: If I don\u2019t respond now, I may miss it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s Matthew. Sitting at his tax booth, surrounded by money, records, and the machinery of corruption\u2014and then Jesus walks by. Just two words: \u201cFollow me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Matthew leaves it all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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But beneath that simplicity lies something deeper. The story takes an unexpected turn. The one who gives the invitation becomes the guest in Matthew\u2019s home. The calling leads to a table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And that\u2019s where things get uncomfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus and His disciples are reclining at Matthew\u2019s table when the guest list starts to expand. Tax collectors. People with sketchy reputations. Those labeled \u201csinners.\u201d These are Matthew\u2019s old coworkers, his former circle, people who lived the same kind of life he had just walked away from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you see what Matthew is doing? He doesn\u2019t just follow Jesus privately\u2014he introduces Jesus publicly<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


It\u2019s like someone who experiences real change\u2014maybe freedom from addiction or a life transformed by faith\u2014and the first instinct is, \u201cI\u2019ve got to bring my friends into this.\u201d Not cleaned-up friends. Not church-ready friends. You know your actual real friends.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matthew throws a banquet, and the table fills with people, your church friends might avoid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And right in the middle of them\u2014sits Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not on the edge. Not observing from a distance. He is with them, eating, talking, present\u2014as if they belong there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And to the Pharisees, this is a problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because in their thinking, holiness looks like separation. Avoidance. Distance. If you want to be right with God, you stay far away from people like that. From the culture that distracts us from the One True God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Jesus shows a different picture: holiness that moves toward brokenness, not away from it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n


Think of a doctor. A doctor doesn\u2019t stay away from the sick to remain healthy. The very nature of the calling is to move toward sickness in order to bring healing. Distance doesn\u2019t cure the patient\u2014presence does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus is at that table because that\u2019s where healing needs to happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Pharisees see it, but instead of speaking directly to Jesus, they go to His disciples.
\u201cWhy does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s indirect. It\u2019s critical. It\u2019s safer than confrontation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even today, this still happens. People don\u2019t always go straight to the source\u2014sometimes they talk around the issue instead of through it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Jesus doesn\u2019t allow the conversation to stay indirect. He steps right into it and addresses them openly. He refuses to let misunderstanding define the moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And all of this unfolds because of one simple encounter:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Target of Grace<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Day 15. Set: Syrian Village. Healing A Man With Leprosy. 10 Lepers. The Call Of Levi. The Widow's Son At Nain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Matthew was a tax collector\u2014an outsider, seen as a traitor, someone who built wealth at the expense of others. If anyone seemed disqualified, it was him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Application <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n


And here\u2019s the truth\u2014we all know what it feels like to think, \u201cI\u2019m too far gone,\u201d or \u201cGod wouldn\u2019t choose someone like me.\u201d
But the story of Matthew reminds us: grace doesn\u2019t go looking for the qualified; it goes looking for the willing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Simplicity of the Command<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jesus offers just two words: \u201cFollow me.\u201d No checklist. No probation period. No demand to clean up first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


It\u2019s not \u201cfix your life and then come.\u201d
It\u2019s \u201ccome, and I will change your life along the way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Some of us are waiting until we \u201cget it together\u201d before we respond to God. But Jesus never said, \u201cFix yourself and follow me.\u201d He simply said, \u201cFollow me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Immediate Response<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Matthew gets up. He walks away. He leaves security, income, and identity behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He trades profit for purpose. Comfort for calling. Control for surrender.
Imagine leaving your career mid-day, not knowing where the next paycheck will come from, because something\u2014or rather, Someone\u2014is worth more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s what Matthew does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


And the question for us becomes:
What are we still holding onto that keeps us from fully following?
Because you can\u2019t hold onto your old life and take hold of Jesus at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final Movement Toward Invitation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Matthew\u2019s story doesn\u2019t end with him leaving the table\u2014it continues with him filling a table<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s the beauty of grace.
It doesn\u2019t just change you\u2014it sends you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It turns followers into hosts.
It turns testimonies into invitations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because the same voice that said, \u201cFollow me,\u201d
is still calling today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And there is still room at the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We talked earlier about the early days of Airbnb\u2014the idea of opening your home to strangers and watching it grow into something massive. It\u2019s an incredible success story. But every host will tell you the same thing: not every guest treats your home the way you hoped. Some ignore the rules. Some leave a mess behind. Some become stories you wish you didn\u2019t have to tell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening your door always comes with a measure of risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And in a different way, the same can be said when you say yes to God\u2019s call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When God enters your life and begins to move through it, things don\u2019t always unfold the way you expect. The path is not always neat or predictable. Just look at the story of Scripture\u2014Abraham leaves home without a map, Moses argues with God at a burning bush, David is anointed king but spends years running for his life, Paul is blinded before he can see clearly, Peter steps out in faith and then sinks in doubt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following God is not a straight, polished road\u2014it\u2019s a journey filled with surprises, interruptions, and moments that stretch you beyond your comfort.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n


It\u2019s less like walking a well-lit sidewalk and more like stepping into a fog where you can only see a few feet ahead\u2014but you keep walking because you trust the One leading you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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One of the biggest misconceptions we carry is this: when God calls someone, it must mean stepping into formal ministry\u2014preaching, pastoring, or working in a church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes that\u2019s true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But more often than we realize, God calls people right where they already are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The problem is we\u2019ve created a false divide\u2014sacred over here, secular over there. Church work counts. Everything else\u2026 not so much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But that\u2019s not how God sees it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In the 1970s, a man named William Diehl reflected on his 30-year career as a sales manager in the steel industry. He was successful, respected, and deeply committed to his faith. But he shared something striking: in all those years, not once did his church ask how God was at work through him in his job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one asked how he ministered to coworkers.
No one asked what challenges he faced living out his faith in that environment.
No one asked how the church could equip him to be a light in his workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was as if the only place ministry happened was inside the church walls.
Imagine being sent onto a mission field every day\u2014a workplace filled with relationships, pressures, decisions\u2014and yet no one ever acknowledges it as a place where God is active.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s how many people live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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But then there\u2019s another story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Betty was a young parent in 1970, simply trying to help make ends meet. She took a job at a newspaper, planning to stay for just one year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One year turned into thirty-six.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Day after day, she walked into that newsroom\u2014not as someone clocking in, but as someone sent. She built relationships with interns, reporters, and editors. She looked for small ways to serve, encourage, and reflect her faith\u2014not always in dramatic moments, but in consistent ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A kind word here. A steady presence there. Integrity when no one was watching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over time, her life became a quiet testimony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And when asked if she believed God had placed her there, she didn\u2019t hesitate\u2014\u201cYes.\u201d
She didn\u2019t leave her faith at the door when she walked into work. She carried it with her like a light\u2014and over decades, that light touched countless lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And that raises a powerful question for us:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if your workplace isn\u2019t just a job\u2014but an assignment?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if your neighborhood, your routines, your relationships\u2014aren\u2019t random, but intentional placements by God?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if the call of God on your life isn\u2019t about going somewhere else\u2014but about seeing where you already are differently?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because here\u2019s the truth:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God doesn\u2019t just call pastors to pulpits.
He calls people to offices\u2026 classrooms\u2026 job sites\u2026 hospitals\u2026 homes\u2026 and conversations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He calls people to tables\u2014just like Matthew\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because the same God who said, \u201cFollow me,\u201d
is still calling people\u2014not just to leave where they are,
but to live differently where they already are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final Things for You to Ponder:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Closing Challenge<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n