Come to the Table

September 16, 2019

Come to the Table

by

Bryan Craig

 

I know some people who invited two orphans to become a part of their family.  These teenagers had lost their Dad when they were babies and their Mom died when they were in middle school.  They had grown up in the projects and after their Mom died, they bounced around in the apartments and homes of different ex-girlfriends of their brothers.  They were good kids and very intelligent and seemingly stable, considering their unstable upbringing.  When they were in high school, they had run out of places to stay and apparently, they were about to become homeless.

This family decided these kids didn’t need a place to stay, but rather, they needed a home, a family.  They had forever plans in mind.  They wanted to see these kids through high school, teach them to drive, get them a car, help them get a college education, be there when they got married and be the grandparents to their kids.  So, the plan went into the place.  The kids moved in.  Legal paperwork was filed and the couple became legal guardians of the kids.  It seemed great for a few months, until the couple realized that these kids weren’t really looking for a family.  They wanted the benefits of being in the house (food, shelter, rides to school, spending money) but they didn’t want to be part of the family.  This couple wanted to give them everything, but the kids shut the door on it.

So it is in the body of Christ.  Many of us have accepted the Father’s invitation to come into His house.  He even went as far as to make it legal.  He gave His Son’s blood as a ransom for us.  He bought the rights to us.  And if that wasn’t enough, He wants to make us sons and daughters, a part of His family.  However, many of us don’t allow Him to fully adopt us.  We don’t feel worthy to be His child.  We are not sure we can trust Him.  We wonder what it will eventually cost us.  We don’t want to lose control, for we have always had to look out for ourselves.  In Rocky Fleming’s new book, An Orphan No More, he describes this epidemic as an Orphan Spirit.

Maybe you can relate.  If so, you need to understand that God wants to be your Daddy.  He sent His Son Jesus so you could be part of the Royal Family.  He wants a relationship with you.  He doesn’t want to just do a few nice things for you and meet your needs.  He wants to be with you…forever.  You don’t have to earn it.   There are no strings attached.

Listen to what Scripture says:

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.  Galatians 4:4-7

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.  John 14:18

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.  Romans 8:16-17

Do you know the story of Mephibosheth? (See 2 Samuel 9)  He was the son of Jonathan, King David’s best friend.  After Jonathan had died, David wanted to make sure that his heirs were taken care of.  He discovered that Mephibosheth was a farmer, living out in the country, with 15 sons.  He also found out that Mephibosheth was crippled in his feet.  Then, one day, the King’s entourage came riding up to Mephibosheth’s house.  Just imagine the mixed feelings Mephibosheth was having.  When the king’s soldiers show up at your house, it’s usually not good news.  Then, they took him to see the king.  When Mephibosheth was in front of the king, he threw himself on the ground, begging for mercy.

King David says, “You’ve got this all wrong.  I’m inviting you to be part of the Royal Family.  From now own, you will eat at the King’s table.”

Mephibosheth still cannot believe it.  He says, “Who am I? Why would you do something like this for a dead dog like me?”

David then tells him he wants him to move his whole family near the palace.  And Mephibosheth would always eat at the royal table like one of the king’s sons.

What a picture of our King, the King of kings, who is searching for us and inviting us to His table forever, to be like His sons and daughters!

Maybe you feel like Mephibosheth.  You feel lost and forgotten. You don’t feel worthy to be alive.  BUT...the King of Kings is summoning you.  He is inviting you to be part of the Royal Family forever.  He wants you to eat at His table.  He wants to treat you like His own child.  It’s time for us, who belong to the Father, through Christ, to quit acting like orphans and take our place in the family.  We need to start acting like sons and daughters of the King because that is who we are.