9-7-2017

Good Morning All,

       Isaiah 25:6; “On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.”

    We all have one or at least had one; maybe you are becoming one.  You may even be a full-fledged member- “the grandma who doesn’t know ‘whoa.’”  You know the type; you never leave the table without at least three helpings of everything.  If you pause to catch your breath, they ask, with a very pained look, “You’re not done yet, are you?”  Whatever you do; don’t tell them that you are done.  No one gets to be done.  If you tell them that you liked something; they will make a whole another batch and send it home with you.  You will NOT leave their home empty-handed; you will take the leftovers even some food that didn’t make it to the table because there wasn’t room for it.  As you leave the house, you are pretty sure you will not eat this coming week. 

    The generosity of this type of grandma is incredible.  Many have one simple trait.  They love to cook.  You add in the factor that they love the people that they are cooking for and the combination makes for plates that will never hold the portions.  While they are the subject of family jokes and quibbles; nobody misses a meal!  The food, the fellowship and the love that is exhibited by the host draws us back again and again. 

    Our heavenly Father engages us in much the same fashion.  We see God’s extravagance, not so much in a meal beyond measure, but in the depth of his grace.  God forgives our sins and he is not stingy!  He pours it on; he ladles it on; he slathers us with his mercy.  He does not hold back.  He forgives and forgives and he forgives us with grace that isn’t even on the plate yet!  No matter, what we have done; it is in the past.  The feast waits for us.

    While God does promise to provide for our physical needs, it is the forgiveness of our sins which shows us the height and depth of God’s grace.  His love overflows even the most wretched of sinners.  He is not stingy with his mercy; it is poured out on us with the largest ladle imaginable.  He serves up forgiveness and quenches our desire for healing and he does it in the the richest and most precious method possible; he does it with the sacrifice of his only Son.  Through this all availing action, through the death of Jesus which paid all the price of our sin, God chooses to nourish us and to bring us back into his loving family and to live graciously in his kingdom.  Feast on God’s mercy and taste the richness of his love.  Taste and see that it is good.

Father of all good things, you feed us with the luxury of your incredible love.  In you we feast on the richness of your grace.  We never cease to be in awe of your love.  Be with those who hunger for your healing.  Be with those who are starving because of sin.  Send your Spirit that they may know you and know of your forgiveness.  Heal them with your touch; feed their souls.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret