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March 21, 2019

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A Table in the Presence of Mine Enemies

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." Psalm 23:5

It is a blessed experience to have our lives filled with the joy of the Lord, but even more blessed when the joy and presence of His Spirit overflows from our lives to others. It is the "overflow" that spills out of our lives that blesses, encourages, and challenges others with the glory of His presence in our lives. You might ask, "How do I get to where my cup runs over?" It is the progressive contemplation of His infinite love that overflows our cup.

When we come to the Lord's Table to partake of the communion in remembrance of Him, it is a blessed picture: "You prepare a table before me in the presence of mine enemies." What did He have to go through to prepare this "table of remembrance" for us? Nothing short of His infinite condescending love made possible this solemn communion in which we remember His redeeming sacrifice on Calvary. Can any words express more fully than John 3:16 the love of God and the sacrifice of His Son on Calvary? "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life."

When we confess our sin and receive Christ as our Savior, He gives us a "seat at the Father's table." What had to take place for us to have this divine privilege? Paul says, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). Such fathomless love, which was subjected to the maximum of man's scorn, rejection, bitterness, hate, blasphemy, and finally the infamy of Calvary, He manifested for sinful mankind. We cannot conceive of such great love; it is beyond our understanding. He went through all of this, "preparing a table in the presence of mine enemies." And then He cried out with a loud voice, "It is finished." What is finished? Our salvation was made complete by the price He paid in full for our redemption with His body and blood on Calvary. Our "table" has been fully prepared and is set before us, filled with the bounties of His mercy and grace! We take our place in humble contrition.

Our heads anointed and our souls filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit, we are seated at the Father's table. We are lost in the wonder of it all. Our cups overflow with love, adoration, and awe of the greatness of His love, mercy, and grace. Is there a more sacred moment in our spiritual journey than when we bow with contrite hearts that have been made pure through His precious blood, gather around His table, and remember Him, our Lord, our Savior? How blessed it is to commune with the King of kings and Lord of lords!

Surely, David knew what it meant to "come apart," to sit at His table in the presence of his enemies, to be freshly anointed with the oil of God, and to rejoice exceedingly with his cup running over! Certainly, we need this refreshing time in His presence, seated with Him at the table of His grace. THIS IS OUR PRIVILEGED POSITION IN CHRIST!

© 2007 by Ed Powell. Used by permission.


This page was reprinted by permission from: http://www.litmin.org/dare.php?date=2019-03-21


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