Come to the Table

Come to the Table

A blog post by Dakotah Curtis of Rooted and Built Up Blog 11/27/2019

With Thanksgiving a mere hours away, I wanted this weeks post to reflect upon the coming holiday. Though Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for all that we have, I don’t think that we should  limit being thankful to just one day a year. Being thankful is a full time job that we should be engaged in constantly. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says "16 Rejoice always, 17pray continually, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." So instead of diving into what the bible has to say about giving thanks and limiting it to this one day, instead I wanted to delve into what the bible has to say about the importance of a meal and gathering together.

When God laid this idea on me, I didn't really expect to find much. When I think of significant meals in the bible, the only one that popped into mind was the Lords Supper. Come to find out, the Bible is littered with important moments that occur at or can be traced back to a meal, even as far back as the very beginning. So join me today in discovering the importance of gathering for a meal and find out what you can bring to the table this Thanksgiving.

The first instance in the bible of a meal is probably one of the most crucial. God commanded Adam in Genesis 2:16-17 "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die." As we all know, Eve and Adam ate from that very tree and their lack of obedience to God's command caused sin to enter the world. The fate of the world was sealed because of their decision to make a meal of what God had forbid them to. Instead of listening to God, they let the serpent twist His words and deceive them. When you gather for a meal, are you doing as God has commanded you or are you listening to the serpent when he tempts and deceives you? It is so important to look to the bible for the commandments that God has asked us to keep especially when we are involving others in our meals and gatherings. 1 Corinthians 8:13 says, "13Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble." When we invite people into our homes, we must remember that we are ambassadors of Christ and should act and speak as such.

Gathering and eating a meal was also a common occurrence throughout Jesus' ministry. When Jesus was out in the wilderness being tempted by the devil, the first temptation that He faced after fasting was a meal. Matthew 4:1-4 "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, 'If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.' 4But He answered and said, 'It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" Are you being tempted to live on bread alone or are you feasting on every word that comes from God? It's so easy to get wrapped up in our day to day lives that we forget that we should be filling up on God's word. When we are gathering with others for a meal, it is important to fill their stomachs but it is even more important to fill their hearts and minds with the words of God. 

Later on in his ministry Jesus is confronted by the Pharisees regarding the company he gathers and eats with. Matthew 8:10-13 "Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. 11And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, 'Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?' 12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.'"  Are you only helping and engaging with those who don't necessarily need you or are you reaching out and gathering with those who could REALLY use you? This time of year it is so important to be reaching beyond your inner circle. Financial and food insecurity and seasonal depression are such huge burdens that many people face this time of year. Not only that, but there are countless people who don't yet know the love of Christ. God has called us to be disciples and to spread the good news of Jesus Christ and what better way to do that than over a nice warm meal!

We are also given two examples of Jesus feeding the multitudes. Once in Matthew 14:13-21 where He fed the five thousand and again in Matthew 15:32-39 where He fed the four thousand. In both instances the Bible states that Jesus felt compassion towards them and instead of sending them on their way after he was done teaching them, He fed them all in miraculous ways with plenty left over. Are you taking the time to feel compassion or are you rushing and sending people on their way before their needs are fully met? This question kind of goes along with the previous one. A meal is a great way to converse and figure out the needs of a person. When we gather we should not just be filling our stomachs and then running off to fill our own needs. 

 At Jesus' last meal, the night before He would be hung on the cross it says this Luke 22:14-23, "14When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. 15Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."17Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 20Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. 21But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table. 22And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!” 23Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing." This is the one that I think will get a lot of people because it really stuck with me. Are you putting aside grudges and forgiving the way that Jesus forgave? The holidays are such a stressful time for a lot of people because there are so many differences in opinions and personalities in a family that tension can occur when they are all in the same room together. Put aside your pride and humble yourself. Remember that we are not to judge others and that we are here to show grace, mercy, and love as Jesus has shown us. If Jesus could dine with Judas, knowing that he would betray Him, then we should be able to do the same.

There are countless more references to meals and gatherings in the Bible but just from the ones I have mentioned above I think we can start to get a feeling for the vast importance of gathering for a meal. So as we prepare for our gatherings and feasts tomorrow I urge you all to search your hearts and remember that we should be coming together for the better and not for the worse. A meal is so much more than just a full belly. We need to be filling the hearts and minds of those we are serving as well. Are you showing compassion and grace as God did or are you showing off and boasting in your own name. Remember that a meal can change history. Your meal may not change history for the entire world like the fateful bite from Adam and Eve but it may just change the life of someone who is still living in sin without the knowledge of the love of Jesus Christ. So try not to focus too much on making the perfect pies or tender turkey and instead focus on the family, focus on the friends, focus on the fellowship and focus on the importance of gathering together and sharing a meal. Will you come to the table prepared to share the compassion, grace, and mercy of Christ or will you waste this wonderful opportunity that has been given to us? I hope this post has given you insight and the motivation the make this Thanksgiving one of the best yet. Happy Thanksgiving and God bless!