Thoughtful Thursday

Members Only

Recently, my husband and I were cleaning out our closets, trying to decide what to keep, donate, or throw away. “Look here,” he said, and he held up his off-white wool jacket from the 1980’s. The little black tag on the front read, “Members Only.” I remembered that the commercials from that era made men feel like they were really something special if they wore a Members Only jacket…like they belonged to an exclusive club. This made me think of what it was like to be excluded…to be on the outside looking in…to feel as if you’re not good enough.

When my son was in high school, he was a member of a bluegrass band. We had traveled with them to Nashville so they could attend a convention being held at one of the hotels.  While there, the band members discovered that their favorite new bluegrass band, called Cadillac Sky, was playing at a place down the street, along with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder. When we arrived at the entrance, a doorman said, “You can’t go in there.” We thought that it was because all the band members except one was under the age of eighteen. The doorman was explaining to my husband that the issue was because that establishment permitted smoking, so youngsters were not allowed. Evidently my son did not hear his instructions to stop. He walked right on in. Immediately, two other employees stopped him. “You can’t be here,” they said. They were all really very nice about it. “I just came to see Cadillac Sky, and Ricky Skaggs,” my son said. He then apologized and said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know that we were not allowed.” About that time, the drummer for Ricky Skaggs had overheard their conversation, He had recently seen my son’s band play music at Dollywood. “I’ll tell you what,” said the drummer.  “Ricky is giving a showcase at the hotel at 9:00 pm. Cadillac Sky will be there. You bring your band, and you all can sit up front for the showcase.” He asked how many was in our group, and gave us special passes. Suddenly, we belonged! As promised, our group skipped the long line, went in, and took our seats, and enjoyed the show.

Isn’t it wonderful that we don’t have to belong to an exclusive club, or have a special talent, or be a certain age, to belong to the family of God?

John 3:16 tells us:  “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Salvation is for everyone who believes! It is not for, “Members Only,” because it’s not what we DO, or who we ARE, or how rich, or poor, or tall, or short, or fat, or thin, nor even how smart we are…it’s what Jesus did on the cross. He paid the debt for our sin, so that we could have a way to enter into Heaven. It’s because of Him, and our faith in Him, that we can belong.

And because I believe, truly believe, I want to do those things that are pleasing in His sight. I want to grow closer to Him. I want to study His Word. I want to go to Him in prayer every day. I want to spread the gospel, and tell the good news about Jesus. I don’t want to wear a Members Only jacket, because I want God’s light to shine through me. I want to be a reflection of Him.

And someday…I want to hear Him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Matthew 25:21

I can’t help but think of the lyrics to an old, old hymn:

“ I’m so glad I'm a part
 Of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, 
Cleansed by His Blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus 
As we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God.”

Now, doesn’t that make you feel like something special?

HAVE A GREAT THURSDAY!