At the Table

By Abi Ruelo

What comes to mind when you think of a table? What happens when you are seated at the table? I found, in my later years in life, that I like to eat. Delicious food. Not only food that fills the stomach but really good food that makes my eyes close and my head turn to the side. It makes me happy to share a meal with family and friends. It’s even better when the food we share is delectable. When there is a special occasion or when we have visitors, the first thing we think of is what food to give them. When I go out of the country, the first thing I think of is where to eat too. We always think of food morning, noon and nighttime, sometimes even more in the course of the day because we are used to snacking in the middle of our meals. When we sit at the table with the people we love, happiness is apparent.

But this is all physical. The meals we eat at the table just nourish our physical bodies. Yes, we eat delicious food; but not everything that goes into our bodies is good for our bodies. And they don’t stay inside our bodies, too. So no matter how yummy the food we eat is, we do not need all of it.

Genesis 1:29-31 says, “Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.”

God gave Adam and Eve everything they needed. What a blessing to be able to eat without a care in the world. They did not have to plant, water or work for it. Everything was already there, ready for the taking. But because of sin, we now have to labor for our food. What more could they have asked for? But is it just food that we need in this world?

And Revelation 16:6-9 says, “Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.) Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.””

All the meals we take here on earth are a preparation for the ultimate feast that we will partake in. One day, we will feast with God at His table, served with all the best and your favorite food. Are you ready? Will you even be invited?

TESTIMONY OF CREATION (Genesis1:29-31) - Every table testifies to God’s goodness. He gave everything to man and He declared everything as “very good.” Every time we have food on the table or anywhere else, do we acknowledge that it came from God? Or do we think that it is because of our own doing? If we trace back everything that brought food to ur table, all will point back to God. Ultimately, everything that we have is from Him.

ANTICIPATION OF ETERNITY (Revelation 19:6-9) - Every earthly meal points to an eternal feast. Every table we gather around now points to the eternal table where Christ and His bride, the church, will celebrate in perfect fellowship in the future. We have to realize that we need more than just physical food in preparation for eternity. We need fellowship, praise, worship and most of all, we need the Word of God. Food only gives us physical fuel to go on, but God’s word is the lamppost that enables us to stand strong amidst all the trials.

BLESSING OF PROVISION - 1 Timothy 4:4-5 says, “For every creation of God is good, and nothing that is received in Thanksgiving should be rejected, because it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” Food is a daily blessing, a sign of God’s faithfulness. It is not a savior or an enemy, but a gift to be received with thanksgiving for sustenance and grace. If we have food on the table every day, that is God’s daily provision so we should be thankful. Some people make food an excuse. If they are happy, they eat. If they are sad, they eat. But the only reason to eat is when you are hungry. So we should not abuse food and be good stewards of God’s blessings always.

LIFE’S RHYTHMS OF FEASTING AND FASTING - Deuteronomy 8:3 says, “Yes, He humbled you by letting you go hungry then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” God uses both hunger and provision to teach dependence on Him. When we are hungry and do not have enough, we call on Him. I hope we call on Him when delicious food is on our mouths too. Feasting celebrates abundance while fasting reminds us to rely on God always. Together, they shape our spiritual life.

ENCOUNTER FOR WORSHIP - Psalms 104:14-15 says, “You cause grass to grow for the livestock and plants for people to use. You allow them to produce food from the earth - wine to make them glad, olive oil to soothe their skin, and bread to give them strength.” The table is where believers encounter God and one another. It draws us into fellowship with Christ and with His people. When we sit at a table and eat, it can become one form of worship too. When we are thankful for the blessings that we have received, that is our worship. When we take care of our bodies by watching what we eat, that is also our worship to the Lord.

Because we feast at His table in preparation for the grandest celebration ever, we should”

BE THANKFUL FOR EVERY MEAL. Deuteronomy 8:10 says, “When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you.” Receive food with thanksgiving always. Accept food when it is given to you and be thankful. Do not waste food because all of it is provided by God. Every bite is a chance to thank God for His blessings. Appreciate that you have food at the table always.

HAVE HOPE IN THE COMING FEAST. Revelation 19:9 says, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” Meals are rehearsals for eternal joy with Christ. Let your earthly meals be a reminder of the banquet that we will have with the Lord in heaven. Cherish the time you have with the people around your table. You will never know if it is your last.

DO NOT DEPEND ON BREAD ALONE. Deuteronomy 8:3 says, “Man does not depend on bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” True is not sustained by food alone. It is sustained by God’s word. What do you do when you feel like you can take no more? Do you go to your favorite restaurant? Do you look for good food to eat? That should be the least of your worries. Where do you go and what do you do? The correct answer is to go to God and read His word. Let Him fill you up. It is only God who can complete and calm you. Reading the Bible is how we connect with God, and ignoring it is like ignoring someone that we love. We cannot go weeks without food. We shouldn’t be able to go weeks without reading the Word of God either.

HAVE UNITY AROUND THE TABLE. Acts 2:42 says, “All the believers devote themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing meals, and to prayer.” Use meals as an opportunity to build relationships, have fellowship, heal division and strengthen community in Christ. Don’t just eat at the table. Be intentional and have a goal in mind.

BE A WITNESS THROUGH EATING. Matthew 11:19 says, “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at Him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’” While eating with fellow believers is mostly set, open the table for non-believers too. Share meals with them and share the good news while you’re at it. Share what God has done in your life, even with fellow believers. Tell them of God’s goodness. They might not have witnessed God’s miracles and His goodness and grace. Make every meal a worship experience.

God has prepared a table for us and He is inviting us to sit with Him and enjoy the feast that He has prepared. Sitting at the table with Him even when we are surrounded by our enemies is a sign of His victory. Every meal we take now is a rehearsal dinner for eternity. We are provided for every day and are strengthened so that we can fulfill the tasks God has set before us in preparation for the things that are yet to come.

God’s presence is not absent in hardship. His goodness and mercy follow us into the shadows, an dour weapons are not swords or shields but praise and thanksgiving. The table becomes a place of victory int he valley. To sit and eat in peace while the enemy surrounds us is a declaration that God reigns. The way we fight our battles is a testament to the way we know God. Is He provider of all that we need? Are we fighting our battles with Him? Or are we fighting with our own will and strength? Are you fighting your battles with bread or with His word?

The only way we can sit at His table is to know Him. The only way to know Him is to read His word. We have to know how to digest His word every single day or else we will become hungry. Our body may be full but our spirit is weak. And if our spirit is weak, we cannot face our battles. It’s nice to eat good food. But what use is a happy tummy if your spirit is hungry?