February 8, 2023 — A Daily Feast

“We had an interesting dinner with a neighbor a couple of weeks ago,” Stan commented one morning while we waited for breakfast.

“What was so interesting about it?” I asked.

“Our neighbor, whose name is Barbara, owns that small bookstore over on Grand Avenue,” Stan replied. “You been there?”

“Many times,” I replied. “It’s a great little bookstore.”

“It is,” Stan said. “Having a small bookstore today can be a tough business, trying to compete with the online book sellers, but Barbara has carved out a niche and seems to be doing fine. One of the things she does regularly is have authors come to the store so people can see and hear them personally.”

“That’s a great way to boost business and build a community around her store,” I replied. “And it gives the authors an opportunity to sell some books!”

“That’s right,” Stan said. “And that’s what led to having dinner with her the other night. She had an author to her store and then invited us to have dinner with her and the author.”

“That was sure nice of her,” I replied.

“It was,” Stan agreed. “I went to the bookstore to hear the author speak, bought a copy of his new book, which he signed for me, and then I got to talk with him over a casual dinner. Couldn’t have been better!”

“What kind of books does he write?” I asked.

“Mainly fiction,” Stan said, “but his latest book is an autobiography that tells his story and gives some insight as to why he writes what he does.”

Continuing, he added, “I’ve read everything he’s written. Getting to spend some time with him one-on-one was a real treat. Kind of like the time I get to spend with God every day!”

“How’s that?” I asked.

“Talking with God personally in prayer,” Stan replied, “rather than just reading His book.”

“I can see that,” I said. “A good way to get a better understanding of why He wrote what He did.”

“Exactly,” Stan replied, “Can you think of a better way to do that than having dinner with Him?”

“How about adding breakfast, lunch, and snack times?” I said with a smile.

“Good point, my friend,” Stan replied. “Join Him for a daily feast!”

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Bible verses to consider:

And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. John 17:3.

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. Deuteronomy 11:18.

Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them on your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 3:3.

You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men, being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts. 2 Corinthians 3:2-3.

Prayer: Thank, you, Father, for allowing me to know you in the sense of accepting your free and gracious provision of life eternally with you through the cross of Christ. Thank you, too, that you want me to know you and Jesus in an ever-deepening relationship while you keep me on this side of eternity. I confess that too often I do not pursue knowing you in a deepening relationship. I do that because I choose to do something else. Please forgive the foolishness of trying to live this life without knowing you as fully as possible. Please help me follow every step of your lead so I do, in fact, pursue knowing you and Jesus. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Have you come to know God for eternal purposes so you will spend the rest of eternity in his presence? If no, why have you not accepted His free and gracious provision? What’s standing in the way? If you are a Christian with the assurance of redemption and salvation, how are you doing with knowing God in an ever-deepening relationship with Him and Jesus while you remain on this side of eternity? If you sense the need for change, how is that going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?