Luke 22:24-30 (NIV) - “A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, ”The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. You are those who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

The Lord’s Supper, the ‘meal of meals’ we participate in together, reminds us and transforms us once again into servants of Christ - ones willing to serve and love like he has loved us. This meal ’sets the table’ for all our other eating times. It reminds us that it is better to serve than be served. Love is the real food when God’s people come together in His name. It is this love expressed, that like food for the soul, strengthens us, heals us, satisfies us, encourages us and blesses us in every way.

Our fellowship with one another begins in our fellowship with Jesus - in the grace-filled invitation to be with him and to follow Him. It is in this fellowship that we experience and know His forgiveness, and are able to freely forgive one another. It is in fellowship with Jesus that we are served ‘life,’ both now in the Spirit and eternally with our Lord. Grace is always an invitation into life that is marked by the love and power of God. Our fellowship, our meals together become another means to this grace - both for one another, but also for those who God is calling and reaching out to so that they can know Him.

Jesus said, “But I am among you as one who serves” (vs.27). Fellowship that is routed in Christ is one where people gladly ‘out do’ one another in serving and loving. Let us pray for this servant heart that quickly and continuously responds to Jesus’ fellowship with us in serving one another. Let’s ask the Lord to strengthen our communities with His love so that others may come into the fellowship of Jesus and experience how high and wide and long and deep His love is for them. Let’s also pray specifically for those we know that don’t’ know God’s love and salvation. May He save them and may we be part of the fellowship that will extend His amazing grace to them.

-TR