Mike Edmisten Follower of Jesus. Husband of Nicki. Father of Ryan & Brock. Communicator of the Word.

Everyone is a V.I.P.

Interesting experience last week.

I went to two Reds games.  One game, I sat in the Diamond Seats.  Something I NEVER thought I would do, but my friend, Pasquale, hooked me up with a ticket.

The other game, Nicki and I sat in regular seats.  Not bad seats, but not Diamond Seats.

The contrast between the two experiences was striking.  When we sat in the Diamond Seats, the staff at the park catered to our every whim.  Everyone fell all over themselves to serve us. Whatever we wanted, we got it.  We were the most important people in the whole park.  At least that's how we were treated.

At the second game…we were just fans. No different than anyone else in the park that day.

The obvious difference…the Diamond Seats go for $230 a piece.  (No, I did NOT pay for my seat!  I would never have been there had I been required to pay for it.)

Nicki and I paid…well…a lot less than that for our game.

Money determines the level of service a person receives. That's a proven fact of life in our culture.

But the church is called to be decidedly different.  When someone walks into our church, we serve them. Regardless of their economic status…we serve them.  They get our very best effort, whether they are wearing an Armani suit or clothes from Goodwill.  It just doesn't matter.

The Bible says it more eloquently than I can.

James 2:1-4

One thing I love about our church…everyone is a V.I.P. We don't treat people different based on their income. We don't cater to those who can "put cash in the coffers." What someone wears is of no consequence to us.

I can honestly say that everyone who comes in our door gets our very best effort.  We will serve them.  We will minister to them.  We will love them.

After all…they're a V.I.P.