You prepare a banquet for me, where all my enemies can see me; you welcome me as an honored guest and fill my cup to the brim. I know that your goodness and love will be with me all my life; and your house will be my home as long as I live. Psalm 23:5-6
This familiar passage from Psalm 23 describes the banquet table that God has prepared for His people: an opportunity for fellowship and relationship, and a place where we find rest and are refreshed. This is because our Heavenly Father’s desire is to be close to His children. The image of a feast in this Scripture is intentional – describing a long, drawn-out meal where conversation flows, and the partakers open up to one another. It is certainly not a rushed drive-thru meal experience!
But all too often, it is easy to get caught up in the busyness of daily life: our family, our work,
our responsibilities, our hobbies. And we neglect the invitation we have received to draw close to our Savior.
In Luke 14, Jesus told a parable about a similar banquet: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ But they all began making excuses.” What is interesting about the excuses listed in the parable is that they are all perfectly legitimate reasons. Specifically, Jesus identified material possessions (“I have just bought a field”), business and career goals (“I have just bought five yoke of oxen”), and relationships (“I have just gotten married”). It is important to remember that while none of these things are wrong of themselves, each of them served to distract the guests from the more important banquet. Jesus was addressing our tendency to prioritize material things above spiritual treasures.
Our Heavenly Father desires ongoing fellowship with us. Many times, and I am guilty of this
too, we think God is most concerned about our service, the things we do for Him. But He isn’t. Most of all, He desires to dwell with us, to abide with us. In Luke 10:38-42, we read about two sisters who invited Jesus into their home. Martha busied herself with serving, but Mary lingered at the table in the presence of Jesus. And Jesus said that Mary chose the better part.
Today, you and I have another opportunity to respond to Jesus’ invitation to draw closer to Him. Don’t miss out!
This familiar passage from Psalm 23 describes the banquet table that God has prepared for His people: an opportunity for fellowship and relationship, and a place where we find rest and are refreshed. This is because our Heavenly Father’s desire is to be close to His children. The image of a feast in this Scripture is intentional – describing a long, drawn-out meal where conversation flows, and the partakers open up to one another. It is certainly not a rushed drive-thru meal experience!
But all too often, it is easy to get caught up in the busyness of daily life: our family, our work,
our responsibilities, our hobbies. And we neglect the invitation we have received to draw close to our Savior.
In Luke 14, Jesus told a parable about a similar banquet: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ But they all began making excuses.” What is interesting about the excuses listed in the parable is that they are all perfectly legitimate reasons. Specifically, Jesus identified material possessions (“I have just bought a field”), business and career goals (“I have just bought five yoke of oxen”), and relationships (“I have just gotten married”). It is important to remember that while none of these things are wrong of themselves, each of them served to distract the guests from the more important banquet. Jesus was addressing our tendency to prioritize material things above spiritual treasures.
Our Heavenly Father desires ongoing fellowship with us. Many times, and I am guilty of this
too, we think God is most concerned about our service, the things we do for Him. But He isn’t. Most of all, He desires to dwell with us, to abide with us. In Luke 10:38-42, we read about two sisters who invited Jesus into their home. Martha busied herself with serving, but Mary lingered at the table in the presence of Jesus. And Jesus said that Mary chose the better part.
Today, you and I have another opportunity to respond to Jesus’ invitation to draw closer to Him. Don’t miss out!
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