God's Table Requires Table Manners

You undoubtedly felt awkward the first time you had to learn
which fork to use. But with that knowledge you can enter any
dining experience with confidence. The same is true when you dine
at God's table. At first it seems difficult. But learning the
right manners makes it possible for you to be in any situation
and please the Father.

Table manners at God's table:

* You have to do your own chewing. Too many Christians expect
God to take out a spoon and dish up the blessing for them. He
is supposed to place it in our mouths, work our jaws to chew
it up, and help us swallow it. We want God to do everything.
The fact is that you have responsibility in God's sovereign
world.

* Accept the seating. God has a place for you - in Him - that
far outweighs anything the pleasures of this life have to
offer. The fleshly, carnal attitudes of your world will be a
constant source of contention in this life. But God calls you
to sit in His kingdom, not in the world. Satan will try to
convince you to take a lesser seat, that those serving God
have more time, money, or talent than you. He wants you to
measure flesh against flesh. Don't listen to him. Sit in the
seat of inheritance that God has waiting for you

* Finish the meal. John 3:16 tells us, God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son. Some believe that because
God has already come and died for the sins of the world, they
don't have to do anything else. However, it's important to
finish the phrase regarding man's responsibility: whosoever
believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.
You must come to Him in order to receive the forgiveness that
He purchased for you.

* Read the menu. You must spend time reading what God has
prepared. Read your Bible, meditate on the Word. It will give
you strength and illumination according to God's plan for
your life. It will keep you on course and remind you of your
responsibilities in order to fulfill the plan of God.

* Count the fruit. If you are not willing to bear fruit for
Him, then He is not obligated to answer your requests, even
if you ask things in His name. Jesus declares, Everything
that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who
comes to me I will never drive away (John 6:37). The Holy
Spirit inspires us to go to Jesus and do what He asks of us.
His sovereignty makes the first move toward us, but because
He gave us free will, we must move toward Him as well.