Can you see your name?

This week I was thinking about Christmas dinner with the table maybe decorated with crackers, candles, and, yes, even posh napkins in their holders. There are all the mats, different plates and bowls, all the special cutlery that often comes out once a year and it’s all looking really grand, ready for the delicious food to  come to the table. It could be that if family and friends come to join in the feast, you have little place-names so everyone knows where to sit.

I want to share with you a bit of Greek and it is the word Agapé (pronounced, ah-gah-pay). This word traditionally denotes a selfless unconditional love and is often considered to be the highest form of love in our Christian faith. Other aspects of Agapé are sacrificial love, empathetic love, patient love and intimate love, a complete unconditional love for others. Perhaps in many ways it comes close to God’s love for you and me, it is the unchanging, undying love of God. It is perfect love, not an emotion, but the very essence of the nature of God. God is love.

In the book of Revelation Chapter 19, verse 9 it says, ‘An angel says, “Blessed are those who are invited to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.”’ That moment in Heaven when Christ’s Church and Christ Himself are joined as one, and celebrate in God’s banqueting room.

But this is the real mind-blowing part for those who have given their lives to God; there will be a place for you! Not just any old place, but a place set for you, with your name written on that place-setting. “Why?” you may ask, “am I that special?”

Yes, you are and it comes back to the word Agapé ─ God’s perfect love and it is especially for you. You will have a seat at the greatest feast ever!