Sitting at the Table
I grew up in a family of hunters and fishermen, (and fisherwomen my sister and Mother really love fishing too) and when uncles and cousins would drop by, we would sit at the table with my Dad. My Mother would usually prepare a meal or at least a snack and some coffee, and then the stories would start.
My Dad told the best stories, and he really had a way of telling them. You would feel as if you could almost step into the adventure as it unfolded. There was always a lot of laughing, and at times, the others involved in the story would jump right in and add some more parts of the story. Some sounded unbelievable, and when it looked like we were not buying the story you would hear, “isn’t that right Jimmy, or Charles, or Dee, or Glenn” or whoever was part of the adventure. They all had a chance at telling their stories too. And again, when they needed affirmation you would hear “Isn’t that right, whoever?” usually they would turn to my Dad to confirm the story. Sometimes he would say “it didn’t happen that way,” just to get a rise, but then he would agree and say “that’s just how it happened.”
Over the years a lot of the stories about how many fish were caught, or how big that deer was, were told over and over. They never grew old and as the years went on more and newer stories were added on, and one of the greatest days for me was when my Dad was telling one of his adventures, and he said “Isn’t that right Dink?” (I am Dink) Now I’m part of the story; not just a listener, but someone in the story.
Over time as I grew older more and more stories including me were added. My Dad would say, “Me and Dink were at Flying S, or Pine Valley, or Big Canoe fishing,” and the story would start; I started hunting, more stories with me in them were told, like, “we were at the hunting camp, or over at the “he did church””. (that’s what we call one of our hunting spots and that’s another story for another day) See the more time I spent with my Dad, the more stories we had to tell.
I was taught not to just go kill something to be killing it, I was taught to hunt for what you would eat, I hunted for 23 years before dropping my first (and only) deer. The main reason I hunted was to spend time with my Dad, and brothers, nephews and friends. I just love getting away and some of my best prayer times are and were in the “deer woods” hunting. Some of the best bible discussions and witnessing to friends and family is on the lake or in a boat. They have to listen in the boat they have nowhere to go.
My Dad taught me that every hunt and every fishing outing can be an adventure, and a possible story; it’s up to us.
While we sat at the table with my Dad, and others, we would get comfortable and know this is going to be a good night of adventures with people we that love.
On July 4th, 1990, I took the pulpit for the very first time. I brought my very first sermon. The title of that sermon was “Sitting at the table with Jesus.”
In the course of the weeks prior to that Wednesday Night, I received all kinds of advice, some solicited, some not so much; For instance a preacher friend named Tiny called and gave me some verses to read and then ask “if I had butterflies in my stomach,” my reply was “yes, very much so,” and he added “don’t worry they will turn to alligators before it was over.”
Another piece of advice was from one of my greatest friends Margie Sprayberry. She said “when you run out of soap, get out of the tub”. In other words when you’ve said what needs to be said, shut up and sit down.
That should tell you a lot about my support system at that time.
My sermon was based on the text in John12 after Lazarus was raised from the dead. Lazarus had a chance to just sit down with Jesus and tell him about his adventure.
I thought that was very cool, sitting with the very creator of the universe. Having a meal with the Gentle Shepherd, and listening to His stories.
John 12:1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. NKJV
In another translation it is rendered “reclining at the table with Him.”
John 12:2 So they made Him a supper there, and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. NASU
Now that is when it really got me thinking, reclining with Him, Wow just sitting back and taking it easy with Jesus. Being that comfortable around Jesus that you would just lay back, and take in what is being said. Listening to His adventures and telling of the things to come.
They may have heard of the meal that Martha worked so hard on and Mary just sat and listened to the stories as in Luke;
Luke 10:38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, tell her to help me.”
41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” NKJV
Or how Peter got out of the boat, or the feeding of thousands with a kid’s sack lunch, I am sure there were stories after stories.
We don’t meet Lazarus until John 11. And as that story goes, he gets sick, and the sisters send for their friend and healer Jesus. Now four days later Jesus shows up and well just read it for yourself.
John 11:17 So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. NKJV
We look at our guy Lazarus, God didn’t let him know when he was laying there dying that everything would turnout okay. Or that it was, so he could be in one of the greatest stories in the bible. God didn’t let him know what kind of witness he was going to become because of what happened to him. He and his sisters just had to trust Jesus, even to them being four days late, that He (Jesus) knew just what had to happen. But look what did happen.
John 11:40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”
I heard a preacher say one time He had to call Lazarus by name or that whole grave yard would have emptied out.
44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” NKJV
“Loose him and let him go.” Now that is one great ending.
While sitting at the table with Jesus in John 12 we meet Mary the Worshiper and Martha the Worker. But now Jesus adds Lazarus name to his list of stories, and Lazarus is now in the story, as I was with my Dad.
Not only does Lazarus get to hear Jesus tell his story, he gets to put some personal input in the story as well, and people come to hear Lazarus’ take on the story and how Jesus raised him from the dead.
John 12:9 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. NKJV
So, we see the Worshiper and the Worker but now we meet the Witness.
I believe that God wants the same for us, and it’s up to us, if we sit at the table with Him.
In Revelation Jesus said to the church, us Christians.
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” NKJV
The more time you spend with The Heavenly Father the more stories you will have to tell as well. And that is our responsibility, to share the Gospel with the world.
Are you telling the friends and family the stories of what Christ has done for you? Even in the hard times that we go through, share how God brought you through them. There is a reason for them so you also can have a story to share.
The very purpose of the book “Something to Ponder.” is to share a few of the stories I have. This is Chapter One of the book.
So, if you will, pull up a chair and sit with me as we,
Ponder over what God has to say.
As “We sit at the table with Jesus”.