As I was praying this morning, I was praying for people I know. People who have a need. I began to pray the 23rd Psalm. When I got to the verse 5, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” I was reminded of a story I once heard. Let me paint you a word picture of that banqueting table.

In this picture I saw two great halls, the one on the left was full of people seated at a table laid with all sorts of food. The table was full of roasts, hams, leg of lamb, fruits of all kinds, vegetables to numerous to count. The riot of color was a joy to the eyes but the people at the table were different. They had a big spoon attached to their arms. They could reach any and all of the food with their spoons but it was way to long for it to be brought back up to their mouths. These people were skinny and gaunt. Their eyes were sunken into their heads, their bones stood out from their skin. They were a sorry site to behold.

In the second great hall, the one on the right, was full of people as well. They were seated around a banqueting table that was laid with all manner of food, vegetables and fruit as was the first. Again, the food was abundant to overflowing. The people who sat around this table also had a large spoon attached to their arms. As I watched, all of these people at the second table were healthy, fat and flourishing. Their skin was glowing, their eyes clear, they were laughing and happy.

As I watched this second scene the Lord spoke to my heart. “What is the difference between these two banqueting halls and the people in them.” “Lord, I don’t know.” I was puzzled by the scene I was looking at. The Lord said to me, “the people in the first hall are starving because they only try to feed themselves.” My eyes widened and my understanding began to grow. Then the Lord said, ” the people in the second room have learned to pick up food in their spoon and feed the one next to him or the one across the table” He said, “they share what they are given.”

Oh, that I may be wise enough to feed others, to share what I have been given. Feed them of wisdom, love, gratitude, appreciation, carefulness, understanding, and more. May my spoon always be full of His Word to share and to share willingly. I want my spoon to be big enough and full enough to be overflowing to feed who ever comes to my table. My prayer is for the Lord to grant me wisdom to know who needs what from my table. In Luke 14:13-23 we read the Parable of the Great Banquet. May I learn what the Lord wants me to learn and share.

More later.