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Welcome to the Feast |
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Article by Tom Gilbert – November 2004
Holiday meal times can be a wonderful
time to gather with friends and family. Abundant food and
memorable fellowship are highlights of many Thanksgiving
meals. At the same time, there can also be strained interaction.
Sometimes it is hardest to get along with those closest to us.
This year when your brother, sister, mom, dad, aunt,
uncle, grandparents or cousins rub you the wrong way
take a moment to pause and reflect on the many who won’t
enjoy a hot meal or a seat at the family table.
During the holiday season, and particularly around Thanksgiving,
many social organizations, charities and religious groups
host meals for the less fortunate. You’ll see it
written up in the newspaper and publicized on radio and
TV. Maybe you’ll feel some compassion and even
get involved in contributing to the cause or helping
serve the meals. This is all well and good. Of course,
after the holidays the homeless and hungry are still
around and the challenge to find the daily meal and a
place to sleep is still with them.
One of the more intriguing themes in the gospels is
the great banquet feast (;
).
It’s a feast of plenty, a gathering of joy and
celebration. The odd twist is that those invited either
don’t show or are in someway ungrateful. Each time
the host is angered and disappointed and decides to find
others to invite, regardless of worthiness or acquaintance.
The servants are directed to go out into the towns, the
villages, the fields and the roads and invite everyone!
How many of us are truly comfortable with the inclusiveness
of God? Our Father in heaven is inviting everyone – everyone!
Here comes everybody and, let’s face it, we’re
just not that excited about this. I mean, there will
be all those people we don’t like and prefer not
to associate with.
Ah, but whatever we do to the least of others we do
to Jesus. And Jesus is the visible image of the invisible
God. The only way I can even begin to accept this wholehearted
welcoming of everyone is to look at my own attitudes,
get humble and realize that all of us bring something
to the table. I can bring my baggage or I can bring love
and forgiveness.
Jesus had so many incredible stories, examples and parables
to make this point. We can always learn more from them.
Not only is the Father interested in all of His children
having a place at the table (and all of us are God’s
kids), he wants to wait on us. Those of us who really
get this message will also be willing to serve and do
it with a smile on our face!
I’m looking forward to the Thanksgiving meal.
It’s a time to be grateful and to share that attitude
with others. It’s also a reminder that the Great
Banquet table is set for all. If I show up but I’m
not appreciating the point of God’s love being
for all then I’m going to be asked to leave. I
feel truly blessed that this message has been given to
us. Ultimately, if we are not grateful for what we already
have we won’t be grateful for what we want.
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Scripture taken from the Holy
Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973,
1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved
throughout the world. Used by permission of International
Bible Society.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks
of International Bible Society. Use of either trademark for the offering
of goods or services requires the prior written consent of International
Bible Society.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible,
New Living Translation, copyright ©1996. Used by permission
of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189, USA. All rights
reserved.
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Recommended
Reading
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PSALM 75:1
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"We
give thanks to you, O God,
we give thanks,
for your Name is near;
men tell of your wonderful deeds."
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(NIV)
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