COME AND DINE ... AGAIN.

Come and Dine the Master Calleth, Come and Dine
You may sup with Jesus all the time
He Who fed the multitude, Turned the water into Wine
To the hungry calleth now, Come and Dine

Do you remember this old hymn?  It was written in 1907 by Charles Widmeyer.  I can't tell you how many times we sang this in church.  I don't hear it anymore.  The hymns have been placed on the shelf, mostly.  I sure miss some of them.  Here's the first verse (just in case you forgot).

Jesus has a table spread
Where the saints of God are fed,
He invites His chosen people, “Come and dine”;
With His manna He doth feed
And supplies our every need:Oh, ’tis sweet to sup with Jesus all the time! 

After singing this first verse we would take off with a hearty and rousing chorus: Come and Dine the Master Calleth... Come and Dine....

There was something comforting about sitting in a congregation with familiar folks - who became like family. And week after week we enjoyed the music, the worship, the sermon, and especially the greeting time before and after service.  It was our strength.  The hugs, handshakes, and smiles put a boost in our souls like nothing else.  We gained strength to go another day.  Another mile.  

By now you're probably trying to remember verses 2 and 3.

2.The disciples came to land,Thus obeying Christ’s command,For the Master called unto them, “Come and dine”;There they found their heart’s desire,Bread and fish upon the fire;Thus He satisfies the hungry every time.

1. 3.
   Soon the Lamb will take His bride
   To be ever at His side,
   All the host of heaven will assembled be;
   Oh, ’twill be a glorious sight,
   All the saints in spotless white;
   And with Jesus they will feast eternally.

Hebrews 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

I read a devotion this morning and the author was expounding on this verse. He explained the Greek meaning of the word “forsaking”  egkataleipontes, which is a compound of three different Greek words: ek, kata, and leipo. 

These three words compounded pictures a person who feels out, down, and behind.  He feels discouraged, depressed and as though everyone else has surpassed him.  He may feel left out and defeated.  

We were created for companionship.  You may not enjoy huge crowds, that's ok.   Churches come in all sizes.  The important thing is that you find a church that preaches the whole gospel.  A church that praises the Lord.  A congregation that can become your family.  

I remember the feelings of the potluck dinners.  A meal shared with those of like precious faith!  I can recall searching for a particular dish that one certain lady would bring to every gathering ... and that bowl held food that I thoroughly enjoyed!  Are you remembering those times?  I'll bet you can name one of those women and the dish she brought, right now!  Of course, you can.  Because it was part of your life.  

What a fellowship, what a joy divine.   That's another great hymn we used to sing.  

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together ... but exhorting one another ... and so much more ... as we see the day approaching.  

I love this illustration:

-One winter day, a gentleman riding on horseback along a Kentucky road met an old coloured slave plodding on through the deep snow to the house of God, which was four miles from his home. "Why, uncle," cried the gentleman, "you ought not to venture out such a distance on such a day! Why in the world don't you stay at home? .... Ah, massa," was the answer, "I darn't do dat! 'Cause, you see, I dunno when de blessing twine to come. An' 'spose it 'ud come dis snowy mornin', and I away? Oh, no! dat 'ud nebber do."

That would never do.  No, sir.  That would never do.  You don't know when the blessing might come ... and you could miss it.  

We need the fellowship of other believers.  We need the house of God.  We most certainly need to feast at the table spread with food for our souls by the Master, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.  He prepares a feast of all good things... and piles it with good gifts from above.  Ah, there's nothing like quenching your thirst and feeding on heaven's bounty as you take in all of the blessings from the hugs, smiles, and encouragement given freely from other brothers and sisters in the family of God.

C. H. Spurgeon said, "You and I know that it is one of the sweetest things outside of heaven to talk to one another, and to exchange notes of our experience. As nations are enriched by commerce, so are Christians enriched by communion. As we exchange commodities in trade, so do we exchange our different forms of knowledge while we speak to one another of the things of the kingdom.

In these, the closing days of time, What joy the glorious hope affords,  That soon -- oh, wondrous truth sublime!  He shall reign, King of kings and Lord of lords.    This is the first verse of the hymn, "He's Coming Soon" ...  the chorus reads:

He's coming soon.  He's coming soon. 

With joy we welcome His returning;

It may be morn, it may be night or noon,

We know...He's coming soon.

The grains of the hour glass of this church age are gliding steadily out.  It's time to come and dine at the Master's Table.

We need each other.

We need fellowship.

The Master is still calling: Come and Dine.