The Full Table

 



The Full Table

​The Scriptures

​Isaiah 53:6 – "All of us, like sheep, have gone astray. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all."

​Ecclesiastes 7:14 – "Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times come, realize that both come from God. Remember that nothing is certain in this life."

​John 5:24 – "I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life."

​Psalm 23:5 – "You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings."

​Ephesians 4:32 – "Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."

​The Story

​Imagine a traveler named Elias. Elias spent years wandering a dry, cracked wilderness. He was a "self-made" man who thought he knew the best path, but he frequently found himself lost, tired, and alone.  The desert is silent and full of thieves.  One evening, he stumbled upon a brightly lit house in the middle of the desert.

To his shock, the door was wide open, and a feast was spread out. The Table is loud with joy and restoration for all who sit and partake. 

Elias reaches for a water jug to was his feet before entering. He sees this is Holy Ground and the Spirit of God is with the people. The Host spots Elias and joyfully runs to him, "Sir, Sir, let your humble servant wash your feet, you have journeyed so far and we are pleased you found your way here."

(Remember friends we cannot clean ourselves up before sitting at God’s table, we have to ask God to clean our souls for us.)

​The Host didn't ask for Elias’s credentials or a payment. Instead, the Host looked at Elias’s tattered clothes and dusty feet—evidence of all his wrong turns—and simply said, "I have been waiting for you. Sit. Eat."

​1. The Reality of the Road

Elias’s wandering wasn't just bad luck; it was a choice. In Hebrew, the word for "gone astray" is ta’ah, which doesn't just mean a small trip; it means to reel, stagger, or wander aimlessly. We often think our "own way" is the best way, but it leads to the desert.

​2. The Season of the Soul

As Elias sat at the table, he thought of the storms he had survived and the sunny days he had wasted. The word for "consider" in Ecclesiastes is ra’ah, which means to see or provide. It suggests that in hard times, we should look closely for what God is providing. Both the "good" and "bad" days are tools in the hands of the Creator.

​3. The Life-Changing News

The Host shared a promise with Elias. The Greek word for "life" used in John 5:24 is zoē. Unlike bios (physical existence), zoē refers to the uncreated, eternal life of God Himself. By simply believing the Host, Elias wasn't just surviving anymore; he was truly living.

​4. The Abundance of the Table

Elias looked at the feast. The Hebrew word for "runneth over" is revayah, meaning "saturated" or "thoroughly soaked." God doesn't give us "just enough" grace to get by; He saturates us with it, even while the "enemies" of our past mistakes watch from the shadows.

​5. Walking it Out

As Elias left the house the next morning, he felt different. He wasn't a lost wanderer; he was a guest of the King. The Host gave him one final instruction: "Be kind and compassionate." The Greek word for "forgave" is charizomai, which comes from charis (grace). It means "to give grace freely." Because Elias had received a "saturated" cup of grace, he could now pour it out for others he met on the road.

​Reflection

​Today, whether you are in a season of prosperity or adversity, remember that you have "passed from death to life." Your cup is not half-empty; it is revayah—overflowing.

Prayer

​Lord, thank You for finding me when I wandered. Thank You for the feast of Your grace. Help me to walk today with a kind heart, offering others the same zoē life You have given me. Amen.

​The Lord's Prayer (KJV)

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

​BOBBA

BELIEVE, OBEY, BE BLESSED, AMEN. ❤️

Love, Penny 💛 

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