SCRIPTURE: Exodus 18
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
(Read my reflection from 2009)
Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God. (Exodus 18:12)
I am intrigued by the idea that they ate a meal together in the presence of God.
Since God is always and everywhere present, how was this meal unique?
Was it that God’s presence was felt in a special way, that He somehow impressed His presence on them?
This was no ordinary meal, it was a celebration of all that God had done for them.
It was a communion meal, a holy moment.
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:30-32)
This was no planned celebration meal, but it was an intensely spiritual moment.
And in a special way, the Lord impresses His presence on their hearts.
This too was a communion meal, a holy moment.
I do believe that when Christians share the communion meal together, that it is a holy moment.
It is a symbolic meal, but it is also an intensely spiritual moment.
As we break bread and share the cup, we do so in the presence of God, with His Spirit burning in our hearts.
But I also think that all meals can be a holy moment, a sharing in the presence of God.
If we take the time to reflect on God’s goodness, if we gather ourselves with the Lord through prayer, our daily meals can also be communion experiences.
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. (Acts 2:46-47).
In their homes, in the temple courts, everywhere and always, they communed in the presence of God.
It makes me think about how we eat, how we fellowship, how we interact as followers of Jesus.
If we were more conscious of God’s goodness, more intentional about naming God’s grace to us, maybe we too would experience the Spirit burning in our hearts around the dinner table.
Could this change how you eat together, how you pray at the dinner table?
PRAYER: Lord, help me to be more conscious of Your presence as we eat together. May our share meals be more like this, deep and intense spiritual moments with You.
Sharing the good news.
Jethro brought Moses’ family back to him and Jethro heard all what the Lord God had done and was delighted. He worshipped God with his words and brought sacrifices to the Lord and they ate a meal together in His presence – in the presence of God.
People coming together and having a meal in His presence – that’s hospitality – that’s friendship – that’s sharing the bread of life. We are always in His presence in all that we do but the meal reminds os once again that He is the bread of Life – He is the real manna – the Bread from heaven – the real Source of All Life. Our meals should also show that. Remember the hospitality – as they entertained angels with their meal?
We are in His presence – God’s presence. Praise and worship in all of life – including our meals. As in a child’s prayer
God is great. Jethro saw what the Lord had done.
God is good. Jethro saw how the people worked with their leader.
Let us thank Him
for our food. Fellowshipped together in the presence of God.
Bind us together Lord
Bind us together
With cords that cannot be broken
Bind us Together Lord
Bind us together
Bind us together with love
There is only God
There is only one King
There is only one body
This is why we sing