The Grace and Mercy Table
Thanksgiving time again. Time to feast on the sacrificial turkey… the bird slaughtered so you can enjoy a celebratory feast.
Time to experience the table full of grace… all the trimmings your body doesn’t necessarily need but craves… delicacies like casseroles, macaroni and cheese, greens, dressing, gravies, rolls, cornbread, cranberry sauce, pies, cakes, ice cream, etc. (but hey, it’s Thanksgiving).
Time to ponder over the table of mercy… the things you’re not eating, but truly need to eat to keep your body healthy… like vegetables, fruits, and salads without the extras.
As Christians, this should remind us of the grace and mercy table we eat from every day. Jesus, the sacrificial lamb, grants us access to feast on the goodness of life. He gives us “milk and honey” in this life as a small sample of what’s to come. You see, one day, we will celebrate at the bridegroom’s feast.
His grace gave us what we don’t deserve—eternal life with Him and the Father. His mercy prevented us from getting what we truly deserved—death and separation from Him and the Father.
Unbelievers will miss out on the great bridegroom’s celebration unless they receive their personal invitation to the feast. The only requirement is faith and acceptance of the free gift of eternal life through the sacrificial lamb, Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8 states, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God.”
This table (decision) bridges the gap between hell and heaven. The matter must be settled while you live on this earth because after death, there will be no more mercy nor grace. Only judgement.
So, as you prepare your table for the Thanksgiving meal this year, before you dig in, gaze at it for a few moments. Dwell on the sacrifice of the turkey. Look at all the grace dishes that come with that sacrifice. Think a little on all the mercy dishes not there that would spoil your taste buds on this day.
Then reflect and meditate on the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus! Give Him thanks for the table of grace and mercy that came with it, not just for a holiday, but for every day of your life!
I don’t know about you, but my Thanksgiving feast will never quite look the same. My appreciation of the turkey and all the trimmings will always remind me of the grace and mercy received through the ultimate sacrifice of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. With this perspective, I can truly enjoy the meaning of the holiday.
Why? Simply …
