Daily Devotion - Revelation 3:20 - Dinner With Jesus

Dining is a lost art.

Eating is still a popular pastime, but long gone are the days when we would gather around the table over a home-cooked meal and deeply engage in the social community. Burgers and fries and just about everything else are offered quickly through a window on the way to our next calendar item. No time for chit-chat, no time to even leave the car.

Dining has become a utility.

In ancient Israel sharing a meal was a priority. The food, in fact, was secondary to the issue of social connection and interaction. Inviting a guest to a meal was considered the highest of honors, because it was an invitation into a sacred space, an intimate insight into the life of the host and an offer to share in that life.

Typically, a host would usually only break bread with someone of like status, or someone whom they perceived could elevate their own. It was considered offensive to allow a social outcast to share a table with you.

But Jesus, of course, had little regard for the social norms of His day.

[Luke 7:36-50 ESV] 36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner." 40 And Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he answered, "Say it, Teacher." 41 "A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?" 43 Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt." And he said to him, "You have judged rightly." 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven--for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." 48 And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?" 50 And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

In the book of Revelation, we find Jesus sending a message through John to several churches, many of whom had lost their way. After admonishing them for various practices, He entreats them to "open the door" to Him, inviting Him in for a spiritual meal where hearts and minds are once again turned to focus on Him.

This offer is generous, calling all who desire fellowship with Him, including the sick, the poor, and the outcasts.

[Rev 3:20 ESV] 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 eat with him, and he with me.

Question to Consider

In what ways have you been neglecting Christ's invitation to intimate fellowship with Him?

Prayer For Today

Lord Jesus, thank You for loving me enough to pursue me daily with Your offer of fellowship. Help me right now to commit to a time and space where I can open the door and spend some intimate moments with You. Amen.