In the Old Testament, we notice God always had a place in which His people could know He was with them. Exodus 40:34-38 says the glory of the Lord was with Abraham and the children of Israel from the time of the erection of the Tabernacle down the line of his descedents. We know David wanted to build another Temple for God, but he had too much blood on his hands because of all of the wars he had fought. Solomon, David's son, would build a house for the Lord God in 1 Kings 5:5.
The Old Testament continues with God's people taking sacrifices to a set place to God in which they knew the God they worshipped dwelled amoung them. There were specific instructions for how the Temple would be built, who could enter and care for it, and the types and times of sacrifices that could be offered. This worked well for many years. Then corruption creeped in and the people were in need of a new way to worship. Now enters Jesus in the New Testament.
Jesus began his ministry by preaching "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matt. 4:17. Jesus ministry consisted of telling those who had been in control of religion that God's people were no longer going to be living by the Law of Moses but, the commandments of God would now be written on the heartof man. No longer would there be a need for a priest to go to God for his worshippers. Everyone could come directly to God. The body was now the temple in which God would dwell in each individuals.
This of course casused a lot of anger from those in power. The loss of power continues to bring out the beast in individuals. Now let's fast forward to the death of Jesus.
On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples asked Jesus where did he want them to prepare for the Passover? They did as they were told and prepared the Passover. It is written while they were eating Jesus declared the bread as His body and the wine as His blood. The last thing Jesus did with His followers was to have a meal at a table.
After Jesus' death the Jews were being hunted down and persecuted. To avoid being found out they would meet at different houses to worship. In Acts we see a fellowship of believers devoting themselves to teaching and to the breaking of bread and prayer. They broke bread in their homes and ate together Acts 2:42-47. Paul writes when he sends Pheobe to Cenchera for her to greet those that meet in houses Romans 16:5, he addresses a problem in the household of Chloe i 1 Cor. 1:11 and the examples continue.
The importance of who Christians eat with is addressed in 1 Cor. 5:11-12 "But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat."
The first established church after Jesus' death was the home. The place where everyone gathered to remember the sacrifice of Jesus, the table. In the Old Testament, after God had delivered Israel out of bondage from Egypt he told His people "Hear O Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you SIT at home and when you WALK along the road, when you LIE down and when you GET UP. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:4-9. This was in regards to the Law of Moses.
The new covenant Jesus brought was told to be remembered by the disciples each time they broke bread "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." Luke 22:19.
In the same way, when we gather together as worshippers of Christ we are to sit at the table of fellowship and break bread and remember the sacrifice given. Today we have churches with altars and altar tables with the word "REMEMBRANCE" inscribed on it and we take the Lord's Supper as often as the church we belong to decides.
But what about that new temple? Your body. When and where do you meet with Jesus daily? The Old Testament was not rendered obsolete but as a primer for the lower level student. God instructed His people to remember what He had done for them daily as they sat, walked, etc. Don't you believe the same applies for Jesus' sacrifice?
Science has proven that families that eat together have children less likely to get into trouble and have stronger family bonds. The kitchen has been called the heart of a home. People say the best way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Paul considered breaking bread so important that he said do not eat with fellow Christians who are not living according to God's word.
Think about your home, the original place of worship after Jesus' death. Think about Jesus' last meal with His disciples. Think about what conversations occur around your kitchen table if any. Think about the importance of fellowhip around the meal.
The Kitchen table; the place to meet Jesus; to talk about all that He has done for you and your family. Why can't the kitchen table be a place for the glory of the Lord?
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