Have You Invited Your Enemies To The Table Yet?...

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

- Psalm 23.5a // AMP

I was asking the Lord what to put here this month. As I sat and listened in silence, I heard a voice ever so gently talking about setting a table before us in the presence of our enemies. I've read a few commentaries speak of this verse referring to:

• victory against the plots of the enemy

• God showing off with His children and setting them up for victory in the full presence of those who oppose them

• justice...etcetera, etcetera.

We're going to talk about making space on that table for your enemies. Wild, right? You might be thinking, "I mean, how dare they? They're our enemies for a reason!" Are they?

What God gives us is not only for us to enjoy.

Joseph, from the book of Genesis, was just a kid when his brothers sold him off into slavery. He suffered long and hard for being his father's favourite. Him telling his brothers about the dreams he received from God only aggravated his already jealous brothers into plotting to killing him. Thankfully, the Lord had a plan, and he ended up being sold into slavery instead.

Yes, I said thankfully.

The story unfolds with God's hand being evident in Joseph's life as he flourished in his efforts whist serving his masters. He later became the second in charge of Egypt - all by God's design.

Let's just take a moment to just be wildly mind-blown by how GENIUS God is!!!!!

I mean...talk about a plot twist! Ok, let's stay on topic here.

There's always room at the table for more.

When you read the story of Joseph's rise to prominence, you see that his brothers later came to Him in Egypt where He ruled as Pharaoh's second-in-charge. We see an irrational Joseph play what appears to be mind games with his brothers (who up until now did not recognise him) until he later reveals his identity to them.

You see, Joseph did not get justice against his brothers - at least, not justice according to his own wishes or standards. God did indeed set a table before him in the presence of those who once meant harm for him. He had two choices, just like all of us do:

1. He caved in to choice one momentarily, which was to use his newly found prominence to get back at his brothers, AND

2. Give his brothers a seat at the table God prepared for him

"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present outcome, that many people would be kept alive [as they are this day]." - Genesis 50.20

What does this mean in your life today? Well, it means that when God fixes your situation, or heals you, or gives you breakthrough, or promotes you at work even when your co-workers slandered you - whatever that 'table' looks like for you - you MUST be prepared to forgive and love those who meant you evil. It means you have to be willing to go a step further and invite them to the table.

Boundaries are SO important, so this does not in any way mean you should let people walk all over you in the name of love. Here a few practical ways of how you can put this into practice:

1. Forgive and forget when people do you wrong, and don't use any blessing God has given you to make them feel sorry for ever turning against or hurting you. If it within your power, help them do better instead.

2. Give. If you can see that whoever has harmed you is less fortunate than you, lend them a hand. This could look like giving your time to help a co-worker solve a problem at work or improve their skills, or giving that person a lift home when you find them stranded or unable to get home. If a rude stranger at the grocery store gets to the till and they can't pay for their groceries, you could even offer to pay for it (if you can).

3. Pray for them. The bible says we do not wrestle against flesh and blood. Even whilst Jesus was on the cross, before we repented, He prayed for the Lord to forgive those that put Him on the cross and mocked Him. This is a perfect example of how to pray for others, even before they are sorry (especially so).

4. Love them and lead them to Jesus. What if the Lord showed off with you so He could show off His power to them so they can see that He is real? Or to show them what His love looks in action, e.g. you being nice to them or treating them with respect after all they did to you. You walking in God's ways and loving them no matter what people do to you may be the very testimony of God's love that they need to witness in order to change their ways and turn to God.

These are just a few examples that I could think of. I admit I took some of them from a movie (hihi)...but you get what I mean. Does this apply if you are still waiting for God to 'set a table before you' in the presence of your enemies? Yes, because He already has. The 'table' has very little to do with His blessings or our breakthrough. The 'Table' is Jesus. At all times, we should be ready to invite others to Him no matter what this looks like in your life - be it by sharing the Gospel, or by living as a true example of the Gospel (or both).

God will always show up for you and deliver you from impossible situations that arise from people who do or say unfair things that may harm you. Whatever the situation might be - and I say this from a place of having been there a few too many times - invite your enemies to the table where Jesus is the bread of life. He blesses you so you can bless others, and there's always more room at His Table for other to join (especially our enemies).

What if He planned to bless you so you can bless them? What if their actions against you are simply inspired by the enemy so you get offended and take offence instead of loving them? What if you loving them is the very thing that Jesus has chosen to use to reach them? Food for thought. It really makes you see situations and people differently, doesn't it?

LWAP is a community, so let's do this together. Comment your thoughts below.

God bless, and Jesus loves you.

Pam.

Jeremiah 29.11