Come and Dine

"On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines." Isaiah 25:6

The clang of an old farmer's dinner bell, the tinkling cattleman's triangle from the back stoop, a mother's familiar voice calling to her children playing 'round the neighborhood. All different yet the same as they beckon family to the dinner table.

Gathering for dinner at the summer cottage was always a delight. Sun kissed cheeks freshly showered, gathered together at the Lion's Claw table ready to satisfy their hunger after a day at the shore. But instead of digging in with both hands, we paused to give thanks. We didn't fold our hands or bow our heads in prayer as you'd expect. Rather, we raised our voices in song, inviting one another to Come and Dine not only at our table, but Jesus' table.

“Come and dine,” the Master calleth, “Come and dine”;

You may feast at Jesus’ table all the time;

He Who fed the multitude, turned the water into wine,

To the hungry calleth now, “Come and dine.” *

We had so much to be thankful for. We still do. Much more than food. Much more than family sharing a name or a home. Much more. We have a God who became man, who lived among us because He loved us; who died for us. Who lives again, for us. Who satisfies our every hunger.

Our God beckons us to dine with him. He's reserved a seat for each of us at his banqueting table with the choicest foods, the most exquisite wines, topped with His never ending love. He will not call us with a clanging dinner bell, the tinkling of a cattleman's triangle from the back stoop, or a shout from across the back lawn.  No, our God is a gentleman. He whispers in our hearts and holds out his arms and simply says, "Come."

Are you hungry?

Lord, you beckon us to join you at your banqueting table where you satisfy our every need; where you fill our souls with manna from heaven.

*Come and Dine by Charles B. Widmeyer, 1907 (Public Domain)