God’s Love found at ‘the kitchen table’
“Then Jesus cried out in the temple,
(The Gospel According to John 7: 28-29 NASB)
teaching and saying,
“You both know Me and know where I am from;
and I have not come of Myself,
but He who sent Me is true,
whom you do not know.
I know Him,
because I am from Him,
and He sent Me.”
My kitchen table is quite an ordinary table: one with a leaf to add and enlarge, six chairs, light-colored wood, & nothing particularly special. Nonetheless, the moment I saw it that day in Burton & Poynter’s Furniture Store, I knew ‘this kitchen table’ was destined to be mine.
We had just completed the building of our home on my husband’s family farm, and we needed some furniture. Our old kitchen table was darker in color, so we decided to purchase a new one. I remember strolling through the store that late-autumn day, searching for ‘the perfect table,’ but after some time, I thought my search would not produce what I needed, so I walked over to talk to Dave and Sandy, the owners. “Maybe I will come back another day,” I said, “because I just cannot decide today on ‘the perfect table.’ ”
That day, there was a family friend sitting at ‘the table’ enjoying his lunch as he talked with the store owner, and so our conversation included him. As we talked, I began to notice where he sat. He was sitting at a kitchen table, one that was covered by food items: bread, lunchmeat, mayonnaise, chips, paper plates, paper towels, and various other items. The more we talked, the more I noticed ‘the table’ he was sitting at that day.
“What about ‘this table’?” I voiced.
“Sure,” Dave (one of the store owners) responded. “All of the furniture in the store is for sale.”
At that response, I walked closer to ‘the table’ and reached out to touch it, rubbing my hand across the top.
Since that day—the day I purchased ‘the table,’ my life has changed. Little did I know how an ordinary, simple object could evoke such power. Of course, ‘the table’ does not have any Godly power in and of itself, but God has empowered this simple object, nonetheless. In this ordinary object: ‘the kitchen table,’ has become—AN INSTRUMENT FOR GOD’S LOVE!
That day, long ago in 2006, I truly did not realize when I reached out my hand to rub the top of ‘the table’ how my life would drastically change because of this simple ‘kitchen table.’
Jesus said to the people in Jerusalem that day—
“You both know Me and know where I am from;
(The Gospel According to John 7: 28b-29 NASB)
and I have not come [here to earth] of Myself,
but He who sent Me is true,
whom you do not know.
I know Him,
because I am from Him,
and He sent Me.”
My days are numbered and so are yours. God’s Word speaks this so!
As they are, we must be cognizant of the importance of living every single day in light of Him—our Lord Jesus Christ. Yesterday was 26 October 2024, since the day a beautiful young student walked into my life. When we first met, she was just a new student, one who I did not know, one who was transferring schools, and one that needed to be placed into my classroom for a couple weeks until the new semester began. On that autumn day, when we first met, I did not realize how my kitchen table would display God’s love, but it did. You see that same young student moved into our home a few days before Thanksgiving (fifteen years ago), and since we changed from a family of three to a family of three plus one, we did not have enough stools to remain seated at the kitchen bar, so we moved our breakfasts, lunches, and dinners to ‘the kitchen table.’ A movement from here to there can seem so insignificant, so small, but this move was one of great magnitude, for since that day, ‘the ordinary kitchen table’ has become—A PLACE OF GOD’S AMAZING LOVE!
Since that day (back in 2015) God has performed a miracle as this (once) young student has become my (now) second daughter.
As I reflect today, I realize how many have shared meals with us at ‘our table,’
- both Christians &
- those who do not yet know Jesus as Lord.
While there is nothing magical about the place where we sit to eat our meals, ‘the kitchen table’ has become a place of influence, an opportunity for Christian ministry. That’s right. We have sat at ‘the table’:
- sharing meals,
- sharing life-stories,
- sharing fears,
- sharing future dreams &
- sharing tears.
Today, as we reflect upon our past and look toward our future, may we each see the magnitude of GOD’S POWER DISPLAYED WITHIN THE SIMPLE OBJECTS HE HAS PROVIDED US!
Consider how each believer in Jesus is walking home to heaven. In fact, also consider how every single person alive is walking toward his eternal destiny (eternity in heaven OR eternity in hell). Our days are numbered; we read so in The Psalms.
“Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
(The Psalms 139: 16 NASB)
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.”
Surely, it is no accident how we live. It is also not accidental how our English word ‘hospital’ comprises the word: ‘hospitality.’ Without a doubt, healing can be found whenever we are entering a hospital or when we are seated at a kitchen table, enjoying the hospitality of others. Every single day the Lord has ordained us to walk through our lives is a vitally important day in the eternal destination of those we love. This morning, the Lord has reminded me how a simple piece of furniture: ‘the kitchen table’ He led me to purchase so many years ago has become—AN INSTRUMENT OF HIS LOVE!
I may not be perfect, and neither may you be.
Our kitchen tables may be covered with discarded papers, books, essays to grade, and other various objects; nevertheless, we can simply open our hearts & invite others to come share a meal at ‘the kitchen table’ the Lord has provided for us. As we do, may we be fully aware of the place of influence the Lord uses to display GOD’S AMAZING LOVE—HE BRINGS to our home & to ‘our ordinary kitchen table.’
- Many speak of God.
&
- Some have heard of Jesus Christ.
But
- A vast majority do not know Jesus brings eternal life!
Open our homes, invite others to share a meal at ‘our kitchen table’ &
BE AMAZED AT HOW GOD MOVES WITHIN THE DAYS HE HAS ORDAINED FOR US TO LIVE!