Issue 1258 – Soup’s On – September 26, 2023
Yesterday, our home was filled with the aroma of garlic, frying onions and chicken. Kathy was making a large pot of chicken harvest vegetable soup for a meal with some friends from the church. It was a simple meal: fresh buns, hot homemade soup, some cheese and a cake for dessert.
I am battling a bit of a bug at the moment, so I couldn’t join them in their time of fellowship, Bible study and dining. I still got to have the soup and buns for my supper, albeit while dining alone. I was envious of their time together but didn’t want any of them to catch whatever I had.
Is it the latest variant of the virus that shall not be named? Just a bit of a regular cold or flu bug (there are plenty of them about)? I don’t know. I will isolate myself and try to catch up on my rest until it passes. Such things are part of living in a fallen world. We won’t have to worry about them in glory.
Perhaps it’s just me, but I believe that something spiritual happens when brothers and sisters in Christ dine together. An extra depth of bonding seems to happen, and the time feels rich.
The bulk of what happens is the Holy Spirit draws us together. Still, I believe He uses something as simple as a meal to facilitate blessings.
Jesus and his disciples dined together. Abraham and Sarah ate with the three strangers. Tales of fellowship over food abound in the Word. As they should because God provides all we need, including the air we breathe and the food and drink we consume. All of it points us towards Him if we have the eyes to see it.
Perhaps the best-known chapter about believers dining together comes in the early chapters of Acts.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42-47
That passage is a description of genuine fellowship. It extends beyond merely chatting in the foyer or having a meal together. Yet, there is no doubt that the Lord was glorified, and people were blessed as they dined together, studied the Word and prayed.
What glorious fellowship, indeed.
In our busy world, Christians (at least in my experience) don’t gather together for a shared meal as often as they used to. That’s a shame. All of us need to eat; it can be a time of great joy and blessing.
Perhaps it is time to bring the joy of a simple meal with others back into our own lives.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
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