There’s been a long standing joke regarding a restaurant in
a nearby town. A couple of years ago we
were with some friends who wanted to try this place out. Only problem was,
everyone tried it out but us! We just never hooked up with friends who went. They
went several times. So we began to laugh about this “alleged” restaurant.
Seriously, we’d never seen it and we’d never been there. Every time any of our
friends went, they’d always share how awesome the food was – especially the
steaks.
This past week-end we were taken out to eat by one of those
couples and it was to this restaurant! Finally, we quit hearing about it and
experienced it. And experience it we did – among the best steaks we’ve had and
we’ve eaten steaks many times over the last 40 years. The ambiance was eclectic and the fellowship
was outstanding! We enjoyed the trip thoroughly - it was worth the mileage and
time to get there. Not only was the meal
great, the visit with friends we don’t get to visit with often was great as
well. To top it all off, we didn’t have
to pay for our meal – we were surprised with the entire ticket paid for by our
friends.
Now that we’ve been there, we know it’s real. Our jest is
over and we no longer have to wonder or kid one another about it. What we’d
heard about has now become reality, because we experienced it personally. We
had heard it was good, now we know. We had seen people exclaiming the greatness
of the food there, but now we can agree with them. We may go back again because we found it was
worth it. Between the fellowship and the
tasting we would return.
There are many things about life in Christ that you hear
about. Peace. Love. Joy. Freedom. Restoration. Reconciliation. Everything you
could ever want or need is found at the Cross. You can eat freely of everything
on the menu. You can stop with just a taste but you are free to have the entire
buffet. You never leave hungry. You never get thirsty again. Unlike going to a restaurant where the food
is wonderful but it doesn’t last, with Christ everything lasts forever – all the
way to heaven. There are fruits that you can take home with you and gifts that
you get just for knowing the Owner – just for letting Him take ownership of
your life.
Maybe you’ve only had an appetizer – you know Jesus, but you
still haven’t experienced the full menu. You get worried, tired, fearful, and restless.
Jesus is your Savior, but you don’t know
about the real joy of the Holy Spirit residing and taking up residence in your
heart and mind.
Oh beloved, Let God show you the way! He will walk with you to the cross, past the
empty tomb and on to Heaven! Everything on the Menu, God’s Word, is for you!
There are no prices and no cost to you. It’s all been paid for. All you have to do is let God lead you to the
banquet table. All of God’s promises are for you. All of God’s gifts are for
you. All of God’s fullness is available for you! It’s a life that’s out of this
world and He’s beckoning you to come and dine with Him! Rejoice that you may
not have enough on our own, but with Christ, you always have more than enough
for He is a More Than God! He loves you and He’s for you and that’s something
worth partaking of every day!
2 Peter 1:3-4 By His divine power, God has given us
everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by
coming to know Him, the one who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous
glory and excellence. And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us
great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His
divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the LORD is
good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him!
I Peter 2:2-3 Like
newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a
full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s
kindness.
Ephesians 3:19 May you experience the love
of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made
complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
