HEAR the Word Wednesday-9/26/07
Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
Key Verse: 13:16 “Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing to God.” – NLT
Have you ever been to a buffet restaurant? I realize it’s tough to admit, but I can image that we have all had the pleasure of dining at the Old Country Buffet or Zoopa’s or maybe even Izzy’s! Never mind the quality of the food, but focus on the abundant selection… Isn’t it great that you have all these choices before you and you can just simply pick and choose what you feel like eating that day? Now think of a “banquet” type of meal, like Thanksgiving or Christmas, or some other big sit-down dinner ordeal. Again a ton of food, but in this setting you have to take a little of everything. There’s Aunt Mildred’s pretzel jell-o, Uncle Mike’s mashed potatoes, etc…You get the idea?
These days I think we look at our walk with Christ as a sort of “Christian Buffet.” We take bits and pieces of the gospel, which we are comfortable with, but we leave off those things that we don’t like. My life, for instance: I’m good with giving “honor to my marriage” (verse 4), I do my best to “stay away from the love of money” (verse 5), and I like to look back and “remember those leaders who first taught me the love of God” (verse 7). However, I’ll admit that I’m not always up on “showing hospitality to strangers” (verse 2), “remembering those in prison” or “sharing in the sorrow of others as though my own body were in pain” (verse 3).
Jesus didn’t call us to the buffet line; He called us to the banquet. At this banquet table we don’t get to pick and choose what we will eat; no we are given a great commission and specific instructions for how we are to live wholly as Christians. Welcome to the banquet, dig in.
EAT YOUR PEAS!!
In Christ,
Trane
