Sharing dinner, sharing life!

  

"Let's have breakfast!" My friend’s invitation is more than about eating some eggs and toast together. We laugh, tell stories, and over the years have grown a friendship that nourishes both of our lives! There is something about sitting down over a meal that bonds people. Family dinnertimes are among my most cherished memories.

5 pm drew the Scott family to a shared meal and to re-connection out of our busy lives. It wasn’t a gourmet meal that brought us the most delight. We loved, laughed, celebrated, and mourned ... reminded that we were 'family.' Those dinners were a tangible way to strengthen identity, to create a sense of belonging. When we did not know where we fit in this world or if anyone cared for us we knew that around the table there at home we belonged!

Surely you know that a 'meal' is at the heart of Christian worship! Jesus gathered His friends for Passover. The ancient remembering of the birth of Israel became an act of worship of the Son. "And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." (Luke 22:19-20, NIV) My heart is full every time I break the Bread, lift the Cup, and connect with my Savior and His great family, the Church.

We are invited to that Table not because we are smart, or beautiful, or rich, or famous but because we are loved by our Father. He prepares a table for us and invites us to come to dinner. There we are reminded of who we are, of His love, and that we children of eternity. The table of Christ is a place to rediscover strength for the journey, hope for the future, and most important; who we are and why we exist. When the people of God gather to worship and share in the Holy Meal, He delights that you are there.

This Monday morning, I want to remind you that you have a place at the Father’s table! He loves when you come to share with Him. In Christ, you are no casual guest at the periphery of His awareness. You are a beloved son or daughter and in you He delights. The Psalmist says of God’s people that "They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights." (Psalm 36:8, NIV) Many things can intrude to keep us from the Lord's table, from worship, from His Presence!

I am going to close our time this morning reading a parable about some people who rejected the offer to join the Lord for dinner! Take this parable to heart. Let’s not allow the urgent to crowd out the important.

The word from the Word comes from Luke 14.
"Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

“But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ ”‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”

(Luke 14:15-24, NIV)

You're invited!  Let's have dinner.

(Video of this blog at this link)

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Come As You Are

Come out of sadness from wherever you've been
Come broken-hearted let rescue begin
Come find your mercy O sinner come kneel
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't heal
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't heal

(So) Lay down your burdens lay down your shame
All who are broken lift up your face
O wanderer come home
You're not too far
So lay down your hurt lay down your heart
Come as you are

There's hope for the hopeless
And all those who've strayed
Come sit at the table come taste the grace
There's rest for the weary
Rest that endures
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't cure

Come as you are
Fall in His arms
Come as you are

There's joy for the morning O sinner be still
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't heal
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't heal
Come as you are Come as you are Come as you are

Ben Glover | David Crowder | Matt Maher
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