In preparation for our lectureship and during each of the sessions, there was a song that kept running through my head. On the one hand, it was a song that some members could have been singing; yet, on the other hand, it was a song that some members needed to hear being sung. It’s the same song that comes to mind when contemplating our weekly Bible classes and Sunday evening worship services. The song begins, “God is calling the prodigal.” One of our first thoughts may be, “That’s not for me. I’m not the prodigal son.” Well, let’s think about the lyrics in the third verse.
“Come, there’s bread in the house of thy Father.” This is not physical bread but the living bread, the spiritual bread, the bread of life, the Word of God (cf. Matt. 4:4). When we come to the house of God, there is God’s bread for each of us to partake and to taste (cf. Heb. 6:5; 1 Pet. 2:2-3). How often do you come to the house of God to partake of the bread?
“There’s bread…and to spare.” How can we ever exhaust or completely consume all that the bread of life offers to us? There’s enough for all of us and plenty to spare. Just like the bread that Jesus multiplied for the 5,000 and took up basket-loads of leftovers, there’s more bread (in the Word of God) than we can possibly learn in a lifetime. Even on topics we’ve “heard before,” there’s always something new.
“Lo! The table is spread.” Got the picture? God has set the table for us. He has placed the spiritual food on the table and has set a place for each of us at His table. There’s a spread! What a scene!
“And the feast is waiting there.” During our lectureship, we had a feast. The bread of God was laid out for all to enjoy, and enjoy it we did. Before the lectureship, we could have sang, “All things are ready, come to the feast,” for the feast was waiting!
“Hear, O hear him calling, calling now for thee…Hear His loving voice calling still.” The Lord has not hosted a private feast, but He is calling all to come and hear! If I refuse to come and hear, does that make me a prodigal?
We had a lectureship feast last weekend, and oh, what a feast it was. We have Bible class feasts every week. Note the imperative verbs in this song — Come! (Don’t stay away!) Lo! (Look here! Check it out!) Hear! (It is His Word, His voice!) There is a sense of urgency! The feast is waiting!
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Matt. 5:6). Is that you? Do you skip many meals?