What is the most important time of day for you? Are you a morning person? Are you a night owl? Is there another part of the day you prefer? How do you view meals? Not simply eating, but who you are eating with.
We all have our favorite time of day. Some love the morning and get a lot done during the first half of the day. Others prefer the evenings or nights, staying up until the wee hours of the morning. Regardless of which part of the day you prefer, you can learn to appreciate others.
We all have a basic need—we need to eat. Spending time together for meals can be a great time of fellowship. Sitting around the table sharing a meal is an intimate time. We may deny that statement, but it makes it no less true. All you need to do to verify it is pay attention to the moods, attitudes, and topics of discussion at the next meal you enjoy with others. Pay attention when you eat your next meal with your family. Be even more observant of everyone eating together at the next corporate dinner or think back to the last one you participated in.
Why am I focusing so much on meals? I believe Jesus loved having meals with a group. We see recorded several occasions in which He ate or fed others. We see the breaking of bread specifically mentioned on those occasions. We remember most often His breaking the bread at the last supper, but He did this several other times. Have you ever thought there was significance in this? It wasn’t simply a Jewish custom.
I believe Jesus knew exactly what He was doing. In fact, I believe Jesus ensured every word and action of His had meaning. As Jesus broke bread, I wonder if He was thinking about it representing His broken body for us each time. Also, notice that He always gave thanks for the bread before He broke it. I don’t believe it was simply a ritualistic action, but one full of meaning.
As I have pondered Jesus breaking bread and giving thanks, I also noticed one more key. He is always the One who gives the instructions. In other words, He is the host. It doesn’t matter if He is in someone’s home or on a hillside or sitting by a lake. Jesus is in charge of the meal. How much more important are our meals, if we allow Jesus to be the host?
I pray we all invite Jesus to be the host of our meals. I pray we stop taking meals for granted. I pray each one of us realize the food we eat is a blessing from God, just as Jesus did. Let Jesus be the host. Accept Him at your table. Recognize God’s blessing. Give thanks.
Matthew 14:19-20 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
Marty Pressey 