Not long ago, I surprised my daughter with breakfast in bed. It was her favorite: Belgian waffles with powdered sugar, warm syrup, and fruit. I had to get to work, so making this meal was somewhat of a sacrifice, but I really wanted to surprise her to demonstrate my love for her. Before I left, I checked on her, only to find it was ice cold, she hadn’t eaten a bite, and she had rolled over and gone back to sleep. I was so disappointed, and I left for work.
As I was driving, I thought how whenever we make a good meal for someone and put in that work and sacrifice, we want them to come to the table and enjoy it. Not only that, but we prefer they eat the meal while it’s still fresh and hot.
This got me thinking about God and His relationship with us. How many meals has He prepared for me that I’ve simply rolled over and gone back to sleep on? How many times have I come to His table late, delayed, or not at all? Or, for the ultimate slap in the face, how many times have I passed the meal that He provided, only to go to the fridge and fill my face with an alternate meal full of junk food and sweets? I would’ve felt terrible if my daughter just threw the whole meal away and went to the fridge and started eating ice cream. Why? First, it’s not good for her, and second, I sacrificed and gave generously to make that meal for her.
So it is with God. He loves us. He sacrificed for us. He waits patiently on us. He has already told us that all the meals we ever need, both literally and figuratively, are ours when we believe and claim Jesus Christ as our Savior. He has prepared every banquet at every table that we will ever need. And he just wants us to eat it while it’s hot, without hesitating. In other words, He wants us to truly seek Him and obey. Why? Because He knows what’s best for us, and He sacrificed His Son so that we could enjoy a relationship with Him.
He knows we are hungry; spiritually hungry. Hungry for joy and peace. We often choose to satisfy that hunger with the “fast food, ice cream, and cold pizza” versions of life, when He’s put a hot and beautiful meal right on the table for us.
Like fast food, we are seeking fulfillment in the bigger house, the better car, the larger bank account, the perfect vacation, and sometimes even in substance abuse. These are all “meals” that we try to use to satisfy our hunger.
Interestingly, later that morning my daughter wrote me an apologetic note. In her note, she thanked me for my efforts, and apologized that she had not eaten the meal. I was impressed with her sentiments and felt bad that I had been angry and disappointed.
Do you need to express your thoughts, or repentance, to God for skipping or intentionally replacing His “meals” for you? If so, repent. Tell Him you are sorry. He’s waiting to hear from you.
Then go to God’s table and eat the “meal” that he has already prepared for you. Nothing will give you, or God, more joy and satisfaction, than to know you are enjoying what He prepared for you long before you were even born!
“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;
and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.”
(Isaiah 55:1-3 ESV)
