The Seat at My Table
Is there a seat at my table for Christ today?
Devotional Credit: Days of Heaven on Earth
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Today’s devotional from A.B. Simpson reminds us that genuine love for Christ finds expression not merely in thoughts or feelings but in tangible acts of devotion. Words without deeds are hollow when it comes to ministry that truly reflects the heart of Jesus. Just as Mary offered a costly gift at Jesus’ feet, we are called to give from the depths of what is precious to us—not only in spiritual sentiment but in physical, practical service.
The heart of the message points to sacrificial giving: not from abundance or convenience, but from love-driven willingness to offer our best to the Lord. It gently prompts the believer to examine how their resources—time, energy, money, and talents—are being stewarded in Christ's name. It’s not about what we can “afford” in a worldly sense, but what we are willing to sacrifice in eternal devotion.
The author calls for a heartfelt evaluation: Does Jesus have a place at our table? Have we made space for Him and His people, especially those in need? In doing so, we serve Christ directly.
As Paul writes in Romans 12:7, each believer has a part in the body—whether serving or teaching, each action is a means of ministering to Christ Himself. This isn’t a guilt-driven demand, but a grace-filled invitation to bring the best of what we have to the One who gave everything.
Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
Beloved, I live in you not to be admired from afar but to be expressed through your hands, your gifts, your time. I am not absent from your table; I dwell in you and meet others through your yielded life. As you extend your hand in service, it is My compassion moving. When you open your home, it is My welcome that warms others. When you lay down what is precious, it is My love made visible.
Do not say, “I have so little to offer,” for I multiply the loaf and the fish. You are My vessel; I am the treasure. When you serve with joy, teach with grace, or give with sacrifice, you reveal My heart. I gave Myself fully for you—not for measured portions of your life, but for your whole being to become a living expression of Me.
Let today be about presence over performance, availability over ability. Look around: where I am stirring compassion, I am also providing the grace to act. What you do for the least of these, you do unto Me. If you trust Me to live through you, I will meet the needs around you with divine sufficiency.
You are not meant to weigh the cost, but to trust the One who already paid it in full. Give as I gave—freely, wholly, lovingly—and in doing so, you will know the joy of being a vessel filled with Me.
Scripture References: Romans 12:7; Colossians 3:17, 23–24; 2 Corinthians 9:6–8; Matthew 25:40; Galatians 6:9–10; John 12:3–8; Luke 21:1–4; Philippians 2:13; Hebrews 13:16; 1 Peter 4:10–11
Real-Life Analogy
Think of setting the dinner table at home. You place each fork and napkin with care, preparing not just a meal, but a moment of connection. If an honored guest were coming, you wouldn’t just toss a paper plate their way—you’d bring out your best. In the same way, Christ is not just an occasional visitor; He lives in you. And the table of your life is His. What you serve at that table—your time, your generosity, your gifts—becomes a reflection of how precious He is to you.
So when the opportunity arises today—a tired coworker needing a word of encouragement, a neighbor burdened by bills, a church ministry in need of support—you can say with a trusting heart: Lord, I yield to You in this moment. Express Your love through me in whatever way You desire. Whether it’s a small act or a large gift, Christ will fill the offering with His presence.
Prayer of Confidence
Father, thank You that everything I have is already Yours. I lack nothing in You, for You live in me and have made me a steward of Your abundance. Today, I rejoice in the privilege of giving—not from duty, but from delight. Whether in small gestures or costly sacrifices, I know You are the one working in and through me. You are not asking for what I do not have—you are inviting me to offer what You’ve already provided. I gladly open my hands and my heart to serve as Your vessel today. Amen.