The Importance of an Appointment

At my wife’s suggestion, I made an appointment for my blood test at the nearby lab. [Rule 1: Always listen to your wife. If you’re not married, listen to your doctor.]

After signing in I sat down with 20 others waiting for their testing. Before I could open the year-old magazine, my name was called. With papers in hand I was instructed, “Go to the last door on the left and tell the technician you have an appointment.”
[Rule 2: Obey receptionists.]

Ten weary people were waiting just inside “the last door on the left” when I arrived. The technician asked, “Who has an appointment?” I slipped up my hand and glanced around the room at my 10 new friends. My hand was the only one in the air. “Room 3,” she commanded me.

Before I could move, Mrs. Tired-of-Waiting blurted, “Hey. I’ve been here 2 hours.” Turning to me with pleading eyes she asked, “Can I go ahead of you?” Before my kindness could kick into gear, the technician ordered me again, “Room 3.” [Rule 3: Obey technicians with needles.] Something so simple as making an appointment made all the difference in my day.

Jesus told of a king who invited special guests to his son’s wedding banquet, only to be snubbed - twice. So the king invited the “nobodys” of the streets . . . and they kept their appointment. But wouldn’t you know, a party crasher showed up at the banquet without wedding clothes. The king frowned, “Hey, bud, how did you get in here without proper wedding clothes I provided for invited guests?” The crasher was speechless and immediately ejected.

Lab appointments and banquet invitations are similar – actually very simple. Follow the rules and you’re in. No pleading, no arguing about wait-time, no need to sneak in line, and no getting kicked out.

Jesus invites all to accept his banquet invitation, “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” [Rev. 3:20]

Why is the Communion appointment so important? Those who accept this invitation are invited to another meal, the Lord’s Supper. Keeping this weekly appointment yields spiritual benefits – a personal time with Christ, a time for personal inspection, and a time to re-evaluate what his death and resurrection mean to us.

Of the Lord’s Supper, Jesus said, “Do this.” That works for me.
[Rule 4: Always listen to Jesus.]