Who Would You Invite to a Special Dinner?

Meditate. Who would you invite to a special dinner? What would you serve?

Then he turned to his host. "When you put on a luncheon or a banquet," he said, "don't invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you." Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, "What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!" Luke 14:12-15

A Banquet begins with fresh foods...
from the Machane Yehuda Market.
Jerusalem

A Banquet in the Kingdom of God!  What a great meal that will be. Everyone who believes in Jesus as their Savior will be invited! How often have I wondered just what foods would be served at such a banquet? Life seems to be all about food…of course, after scripture—which is spiritual food! If you look back over the years of posts in this blog you’ll see that question many times. What would be served at a banquet in Heaven? At the Marriage Feast Banquet? Will Jesus serve the food Himself or will I be serving alongside of Him? I always imagined that there would be humus, cheese, bread, pomegranates, dates, figs, fresh vegetables and perhaps lamb with wine and water—but lately when I’ve really stopped to realize the number of ethnicities that will be represented in Heaven, I think that there will be an enormous variety of ethnic foods represented on the Banquet Table. What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God! I love foods from Israel, India and Thailand, as well as those from Japan, the Philippines, and China. Even within many countries there is a diversity of cuisine. Yes. Heaven is going to be an epicurean adventure! When that banquet will happen is a good guess. I always thought it would happen for each person—as soon as they get to heaven, but only souls are there now…only Jesus is in His resurrected body. All other resurrected bodies will join Him there later, as I understand it. Let’s look tomorrow at just “when” the Wedding Feast will occur in Heaven. That is the Banquet for which we are all waiting!

Prayer ~ Lord God, help me wait patiently for the banquet in the Kingdom of God. I am hungry and waiting for that great meal…spiritually and physically. Life—even eternal life—is all about food. There are many people now, amidst this COVID pandemic, that are truly hungry. Meet their needs, Lord—physically and spiritually. I praise You, Lord, that You hear and answer our prayers.

Verses of Salvation ~ After this, I heard what sounded like a vast crowd in heaven shouting, "Praise the LORD! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. Revelation 19:1

 Friday’s Feasting at the King’s Table

We can’t live on bread alone. Imagine once again what will be served at the Banquet with the King in Heaven! Not just bread…and not just cheese or humus with that bread. God made so many tasty herbs and spices to be used with fruits, vegetables and meats…as well as breads. What is your preferred herb or spice? I tend to change every year or two. Thyme has been a go to of mine for several years…and before that it was basil. I also like fresh oregano. Spices? Cinnamon is scrumptious especially on roasted winter squash or in butternut squash soup—although it is not a spice that I would consider using with many vegetables or ice cream.

We are getting into ice cream weather—so consider what you like to have on your ice cream. Chocolate, caramel, strawberries, bananas, cherries, or hot sliced apples? Oh, yes. Cinnamon could be cooked up with the apples and topped with ice cream, caramel sauce, chopped pecans and whipped cream. Now there is a combination of flavors that would satisfy my sweet tooth! Yum! Cook some up for an after dinner treat tonight!

© 2021 Text, photos and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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