I remember when my father was transferred to another city, on his last day with his colleagues, they all stepped forward one by one to share about the experiences they had with them. I remember one woman in particular and what she had to share.
She said, “whenever anyone enters Sir’s office, the first thing he asks us to do is sit down. Then he asks us to have a cup of coffee or tea, or some snacks.
It doesn’t matter if someone is walking in to give bad news or good news. It doesn’t matter how important or urgent the work is. The first thing he says is, ‘come, sit down. Have something to drink.'”
I think about that a lot, because I’ve learnt that that’s what God does too.
In the 19th chapter of the first book of Kings, the prophet Elijah has just witnessed a mighty, powerful act of God. And yet, right after that, when a wicked woman threatens to kill him, he runs to the desert to in fear for his life.
He runs, and even cries out go God saying, “I’m done. Kill me.” All this, right after God has shown him that He is powerful (check out 1 Kings 18), and that He can protect him.
But to this fearful prophet, God does not respond by saying, “Really? After all you’ve seen? You’re running in fear?”
Instead, God sends an angel to cook for Elijah. And Elijah is simply told to get up and eat.
Not once, but twice.
And Elijah was strengthened by that food.
Hundreds of years later, God does the same thing again, only this time, as Jesus.
His best friend Peter, denied Him, and allowed Him to die. But He showed His power by rising from the dead.
But Peter was left heartbroken. He was filled with guilt and sorrow for what he had done. He even went back to his old trade, which was fishing.
And Peter and his friends spent all night fishing, but caught nothing.
In the morning, as their boats are nearing the shore, Peter sees Jesus.
And when Jesus meets Peter, He does not say, “I trusted you, and you let me down.”
Jesus is standing on the beach, cooking bread and fish.
And He looks right at Peter and the others and says, “Come, and have breakfast.”
That’s God.
That’s who He is.
When we’ve let Him down, and when we’re in the midst of our lows, filled with guilt and shame, He still thinks about us first.
He doesn’t condemn us, no!
His first response is always – ‘you must be tired. Come, eat. Be refreshed. We’ll talk after that.’
It doesn’t matter what the situation is. It doesn’t matter how urgent or important it may seem.
It doesn’t matter how much we’ve let Him down, or how much we’ve let ourselves down.
His invitation still remains.
Whatever you are going through, and wherever you are, I hope you hear His voice calling out to you today – “Come, eat. Sit with Me and be refreshed. Whatever the issue is, I’ll deal with it. You first come and eat.”
