More than a Meal
Psalms 95:1-7 NKJV
[1] Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. [2] Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. [3] For the Lord is the great God, And the great King above all gods. [4] In His hand are the deep places of the earth; The heights of the hills are His also. [5] The sea is His, for He made it; And His hands formed the dry land. [6] Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. [7] For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice:
Today is the day we come together as family and friends to celebrate a day to be thankful.
It is a day that we put aside thoughts and opinions to keep each other’s company in peace.
Meals are prepared. Tables are set.
There is so much to be thankful for this Holiday Season.
There’s the Blessings that the Lord has bestowed upon us. There’s the family and friends in our lives that we cherish and value for who they are.
We gather together, sit at the table and break bread and enjoy ourselves.
The Lord shows us so much favor it’s truly hard to keep up!
Sometimes the Blessing and Favor of God doesn’t seem to be Blessing and Favorable. For some this is a difficult time.
Broken hearts, broken relationships.
Maybe a table or a meal hasn’t been prepared.
For some this is a time of year that isn’t looked forward to.
It may be a little harder to give thanks and praise to the Lord.
Even if the tables are full and the meal is grand, there is something far greater to be thankful for! If the chairs are empty and there’s no meal, there is something far greater to look forward to.
Praise God Thanksgiving isn’t just one selected day out of the year!
Give thanks for more than a meal!
Psalms 100:4-5 NKJV
[4] Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. [5] For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.
His Mercy is everlasting! This day will pass. This Thanksgiving Dinner will end. The dishes will be cleaned. Leftover meals packed.
Heads will lay on pillows.
Tomorrow the conversations from yesterday will start to fade.
But the Mercy of God is everlasting!
There is not a soul that confesses Christ as King that will enter the Gates of His Court disappointed!
His truth endures forever!
Today, tomorrow and from everlasting to everlasting! Today we give Him thanks! Tomorrow we give Him thanks!
Then the day after that!
Everyday the Lord allows breath in our lungs we give thanks!
Because we have a Greater Supper to look forward to!
We have a Banquet to Prepare for!
The Lord of Hosts is preparing a seat just for you!
Luke 14:15 NKJV
[15] Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!”
The Bread of Life!
Never rots and is always filling!
Brings nourishment to the soul and heals the heart!
Give thanks to God for that today and everyday!
Let us Pray!
Heavenly Father, we come to Your Throne of Grace and Mercy, boldly but humbly. We come together today to give You Praise, Honor and Thanks. We praise You for being our Father. Let us come together to sing Your Glorious Praises! You sit upon Your Throne and watch over Your Children today and everyday. Your eye is never far and Your arm is always stretched out to us.
Who is a God like You! We honor Your Holy Name – the Name that is above all other names. There is none Greater.
We give You thanks. We thank You for life. We thank You for breath. We thank You that You sent Your only Son Jesus to save sinners like us. We thank You for the Mercy You show us through Your Son. We thank You that Your Mercy is everlasting and Your Truth endures forever!
We ask that today that the peace You promised dwells in our hearts. Heal us of any hurt, pain or sorrow. Give us joy that last.
Let us be good representatives and Good stewards of Your Throne.
May You be the center of our lives and the center of our days.
We thank You for Who You are not just what You do, this day and everyday until we are reunited with You at the Grand Banquet You have gone to prepare.
Let today be rehearsal for that Great Day!
We ask all of this in the Holy and Precious Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth!
Amen
Pastor Ed