Open, the Hospitable HeartSample

Inviting Table

Please stay and eat. Having you here is the best part of the meal. There’s plenty.

My mother Sandra knows a thing or two about southern cooking–aka comfort food. She often cooks with just what she has on hand and somehow makes it delicious. The thing to note here is that she has ingredients on hand. She is never without sausage and bacon. She often throws together one of her crisp lettuce salads where anything within reason goes for the toppings—I don’t think we have ever had the exact same salad twice. Often it is common stuff like her mashed potatoes or scrambled eggs that we rave over the most. When I come over for a meal, my first thought as I enter her kitchen is, “It smells like Thanksgiving.” Not because she is serving turkey and stuffing, but because the fragrant food warms my heart.

Mom often invites family and friends to eat with her. Rare these days, those who unexpectedly drop by near mealtime are asked to stay. After the blessing, whoever is there fills a plate and settles in.

Mom is also an expert at making the table feel festive. There is often a table cloth, candles, or quilted place mats, but she also majors in making her table a place to celebrate changing seasons, holidays, and birthdays. These are symbolized with a simple centerpiece, usually an item she already owns or fresh flowers. Her table is never unapproachably fancy; it’s just the right place for lingering. Mom’s food and table say, “I love you.”

Now let’s turn our thoughts and hungry souls to the Lord’s table. Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke once said, “The difference between Christianity and other beliefs is this: The gods of other religions require their followers to spread the table for them. Our God spreads the table for us."

Jesus sat down with sinners for meals—that includes you and me. But He did not leave us sinners. In the greatest example of humility and power, Jesus hosts the covenantal Communion table where we are each invited to partake of His body and blood as His redeemed people. Here we are sustained and satiated by Him.

I love to envision the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb.” This is the scene John saw in Revelation 19 where King Jesus hosts a feast for His Church, who are clothed in His righteousness. On that day, those we have welcomed into our hearts and led to Christ will be seated with us. How beautiful to always have this imminent moment in our hearts as motivation to be hospitable and bold in sharing Christ with others right now.

Practice hospitality (Rom. 12:13).

• At the Lord’s personal invitation, come away and feast on the Bread of Life today. Many are invited, but few are willing to enter into the fellowship at His glorious table. El Shaddai is our whole provision. Let us feast on the Word and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit with thanksgiving.
• Take an inventory of what you have to make a meal and seat guests in your home. Don’t have a table? Any inward facing arrangement will do great. Check your food provisions. If someone arrived unannounced, could you pull together coffee/tea and a bite to eat or even a meal? List the items you cook easily and well. Try to have these ingredients on hand to make a quick meal possible. And have something yummy stashed away for the children in your life.
• If the host or hostess arrives at the table too tired from cooking to eat the meal she made, something needs tweaking. Delegate, cater, cook ahead or serve simpler food so that you can arrive at the table ready to enjoy those seated around you. The attitude of the host or hostess sets the atmosphere for the meal.
• Plan a focal point for your table. A focal point is the centerpiece on the table, something simple and lovely on which to rest the eyes. This could be anything that adds a festive touch: flowers, a bowl of fruit, or candles. It could reflect the holiday like Valentine’s Day or the season at hand like fall leaves and gourds. A rule of thumb is to keep the focal point low enough that every face can be seen fully without having to lift your chin to look over it (no higher than 8” or so). After all, the faces at the table are the true centerpiece.

As we open the Word together, watch how God sets His table and how His hospitality—the giving of Himself—changes everything.