The Banquet Table- BE FILLED
The Banquet Table
by
Rocky Fleming
Friday - Be Filled
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This series is entitled The Banquet Table. It is about the feast that Jesus offers us with intimate fellowship with Him. I have tried to relate those things using food metaphors as a creative way to deliver some key points. I hope it worked. I got my idea from observing the way Jesus communicated critically important things to the people around Him. He could have used complex and intricate words, or even masterful theological points. He is God and could do anything He wanted to do. However, His desire was to communicate in a way that most people would understand. Therefore, He used metaphors and parables within stories to deliver thoughts that would drill into hearts and not just linger on the surface. Think of the stories that dealt with food like the "Wedding feast - His words that His "food was to do the will of God" - The feeding of the 5,000 - and of course His message, "This bread represents My flesh and this wine represents My blood." There are many more examples to pull from. The key to all this is that just like food is required to live, the spiritual food of an intimate relationship with Jesus is required for a feasting life with Jesus. Let me continue the metaphors.
You have seen that I mention the problem I see with the culture we live in as being adversarial to true Christianity. It is evident, but it is becoming less evident because of the adaptation of churches. I think many churches in America are anemic and hurting and failing as a result of becomingculturalized by the shifting norms of the American culture. In other words, they become like the culture. How did it happen? Laziness? Ignorance? "Tolerance?" How about losing our identity, our purpose and our intimacy with Christ? We have become a hurry up culture, leaving little time for developing an intimate relationship with Christ, even within many of our churches. They have become hurry up churches.
I'm reminded how the food business in this country has changed to meet this"hurry up" culture. Most of the places we eat in now are classified as fast foodrestaurants. Even families have become fast food families. We are seeing fewer families cooking and serving home cooked meals. They just order out or pick something up. Gone is the joy of the wonderful aromas of food cooking in the kitchen and children waiting with hungry anticipation for what will be served. Gone is the joy of children and parents preparing a meal together to be eaten together. They just want to get it over and get back to their texting or computer or television shows. Gone is communication, laughter and the joy of sharing each life's drama around the table. I think it is safe to say, "Gone is the family communion that leads to intimacy." I've seen this culture within homes develop for various reasons. Some happen because of lack of concern, some due to simple laziness, or some because of a hectic schedule by both parents. Generally, the culture wins out and the family loses. From my point of view, I would counsel families to do something about it if at all possible. I believe that something great is missing, and it will show what it is in future years. Just my opinion. But how does this fit with the Banquet Table of being with Jesus? Read these words from Jesus again and think about it:
"Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends." (Revelations 3:20 NLT)
When Jesus said He would share a meal with us, He was talking about the kind of sharing a meal that He did, not the culturalized version we think of. He was saying that He would give us His time and take His time to allow us to enjoy Him. He was not saying, "Drop by and pick it up on the go." He didn't say "Hurry up and get it over with for I don't have time for you." But that is exactly what we say to Him when we don't take time to be with Him, or to enjoy Him, or to simply hang out with Him. Really? The King of the Universe invites us to share a meal with Him and we don't have time for Him, but we can make time for golf, or fishing, or ball games, or other friends? Now what do you think He thinks about that excuse? Back to the food metaphors:
When one experiences a well thought out, well prepared, and well orchestrated meal, they will tell you that it simply blows a fast food joint away. It is the same with communion with Christ. I'm not talking about the sacrament churches have, but rather the heart of abiding in Christ which should be our greatest concern. When we take the time through preparation and concentration to get alone with Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit, and share a spiritual meal with Him through unhurried prayer, His word and resting before Him, we will never want to go back to the fast food spiritual snacks that we had been existing on. We will never be the same. We will wonder why we didn't take the time. We will begin to prioritize our life to return to His Banquet Table, for nothing less will ever satisfy us again. I know this was and is true for me. I know it!
Brothers, I hope that you are hungry enough to pray out to God and tell Him that you want more, and that you will go and find it. He is waiting for you. He is always waiting for you. Like my grandmother used to say when she called the children to dinner. "Come and get it!" Now you go and get it!! He's there ready to feed you some major food. Are you hungry enough to go to Him and get it?