If you meet for the first time, and we have a generic 'small talk' conversation, you've probably asked me, "so what do you do?"
To this I will probably start off with "I decorate cakes," or "I'm a pastry chef."
I speak food.
Not only do I like food, in the sense that most people like to eat food, but I also like to prepare it. I tell you what, there are times where I will spend hours in the kitchen preparing a meal. If ever you came to my house, I'd probably try and feed you, even if you already ate.
When I say I spend hours in the kitchen, I don't mean that in a negative way, but I do it out of love. I guess you could say food is another love language of mine.
God speaks food as well.
[ Hands down, God's tablescape is way better than anything I could ever dish out. ]
I can make food, but it'll only stuff you for the day;
God prepares what is eternal.
"Don't waste your energy striving for perishable food like that. Work for the food that sticks with you, food that nourishes your lasting life, food the Son of Man provides. He and what he does are guaranteed by God the Father to last."
Jesus said, "I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever. I have told you this explicitly because even though you have seen me in action, you don't really believe me. Every person the Father gives me eventually comes running to me. And once that person is with me, I hold on and don't let go. I came down from heaven not to follow my own whim but to accomplish the will of the One who sent me.
John 6: 27, 35-38 (The Message)
God has a feast prepared for us.
Only those who 'have it together' are
Everyone is invited to partake of the Bread of Life.
Some see the invitation and never respond.
Some take the invitation and throw it out.
Some are seated and feasting on all that God has to offer.
And some are sitting down and 'pushing the peas around' and playing with their food.
I think there are times where we get too comfortable with just sitting at the table with our invitation but haven't actually started partaking in what God has prepared for us. I know there are plenty of times where I fail to recognize all the good things God has placed in front of me; I can be ungrateful with blessings and just poke them around with my fork and never experience fullness or appreciate what I have been given.
When I prepare food for people, nothing is more satisfying than knowing than seeing people's plates cleared and knowing they are satisfied.
And isn't that God's intention?
— that we would be most satisfied by Jesus, the Bread of Life?
God set the table.
God prepared the meal.
The invites are out; tell all your friends, family, strangers, and even your enemies.
If you've come to the table, you don't need to take a number, there's plenty to go around. You've already been served.
But you don't get full unless you eat.
You don't get full by smelling.
You don't get full by looking at the Bread of Life.
You don't get full by watching others eat.
So quit playing with your food… eat already!
There's fullness to experience,
but no one can force feed you.
Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—
how good God is.
Blessed are you who run to him.
Psalm 34:8
