When You Choose to Invite God to Dinner

Have you ever made the choice to invite God to dinner? Wonder why you would … or how you could?

Every once and a while, my son or daughter will set an extra place setting at the dinner table – complete with napkin, plate, silverware and glass. Unprompted, they announce that Jesus is joining us for dinner for the night.

Two thoughts usually come to mind right away:

1. Welcome. You are always here and always welcome, Lord.
2. I truly wish You were physically here. But since You’re not, I’m relieved, because I wouldn’t want to feed You what we’re having for supper.

I know Jesus doesn’t want or require our very best food. I know Jesus just wants us. But frankly, I would get distracted by the food.

Similarly, is it any wonder Martha was flipping out in Luke 10: 38-42?

“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.  But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,  but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

I’m prone to be a Martha, so I understand what it’s like to be distracted with much serving.

And I imagine that if I welcomed Jesus to my house for dinner, I’d be very concerned about what I’d serve Him!

Saying thanks

Aside from the fearful practicality of serving Jesus an actual meal, I absolutely love when my kids remember to invite Jesus to our dinner table.

We remember to make him a part of our dinner when we give thanks for our meal.

In our simple act of gratitude – just by saying grace – we remind ourselves that God has provided our daily bread and meat and vegetables.

He has met and is meeting our needs. He has abundantly blessed us. Whether we’re eating Chef Boyardee or Chataubriand, He has given us that good gift.

As Matthew 6:25-26 reminds us,

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”

You are of great value, and the Lord will — and does — give you what you need.

In your midst

Once you give thanks, remember that Jesus is there, in your midst.

He’s asking to be part of your life.

As He says in Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me.”

When you become mindfully aware that Jesus is with you and a part of your life, things will change. He’ll begin to shape your attitude, your thoughts, your speech, your perspective on life. And they’ll be changed for the better.

The changes may be surprising – and your changes just might shock those who know you best – but they will be for the best.

All of this can happen by remembering to give thanks and to invite Jesus to be part of our daily life. And it can start by simply inviting him to be part of your dinner table.

The flip side, though, is that we can choose to live in complacency – or simply get so wrapped up in our own lives that we forget about Christ.

We can forget about thanking the One who has given us every good and perfect gift.

We can make ourselves the most important people in the room instead of remembering and acknowledging our Maker.

The choice is for each person to make. But it’s funny how it all boils down to one issue of inviting God to dinner.

Will you choose to invite Him … or not?

How do you invite God to dinner?

Disclosure: This post originally was published on Aug. 17, 2015. Purchasing items from links in this post may result in a commission for Home to a Haven. Thank you for supporting this website!

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Hilary

Hilary Bernstein is a Christ follower, wife, homeschooling mama, and writer who believes every Christian woman can live with peace and purpose. She's happiest when she's hosting friends and family for dinner, going on date nights with her husband, singing along to the radio, traveling with her family, and spending cozy nights at home. The author of fifteen books,Hilary also is Women's Ministry Director at The Chapel in Green, Ohio.

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