Scriptural Basis for Mealtime Prayers

Mealtime Prayers

Deuteronomy 8:10, “When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you.”
 
Matthew 14:19, “[Jesus] took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, 
He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and
the disciples gave to the multitudes.”
 
Matthew 26:26-27, “As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and 
broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’ 
Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 
‘Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood. . . .’”
 
Luke 24:30, “Now it came to pass, as [Jesus] sat at the table with them,
that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.”
 
Acts 27:35, “[Paul] took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all;

and when he had broken it he began to eat.”

Devotional Learnedness

There is a phrase that I picked up from my mentor that reflects the ongoing spiritual growth of the Christian. The phrase is “Devotional Learnedness.” This phrase refers to every type of Christian learning for devotional purposes and the pursuit of spiritual excellence. Remember what Jesus commanded in the Great Commission of Matthew 28 was for “disciples” to be made. Disciples are followers and students—lifelong learners. Also, a pursuit of holiness or spiritual excellence is not for the sake of earning our salvation, desiring the praise of men, or simply to fulfill religious duties. Rather, a pursuit of spiritual excellence is to live worthily of the calling that we have in Christ Jesus (Col 1:10; Eph 4:1; 1 Thess 2:12; Phil 1:27). Now, there are several passages that discuss how a Christian ought to live a life worthy of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Similarly, there are several key passages that discuss devotional learnedness. A few may be shared here.

Colossians 1:9: “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. . . .”

2 Timothy 3:15: “[F]rom childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Galatians 4:19: “My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you. . . .”

Romans 8:29: “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

Romans 12:2: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

2 Peter 1:5-9: “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.”

2 Peter 3:18: “[B]ut grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”

So then, let us learn and obey the Bible—the Holy Scriptures—that we may be made into the people that God would have us to be.

A Poem by W. Cowper: Jesus Hasting to Suffer

JESUS HASTING TO SUFFER

by William Cowper, 1731-1800

 

  The Saviour, what a noble flame

Was kindled in his breast,

  When hasting to Jerusalem

He march’d before the rest!

 

  Good-will to men and zeal for God

His ev’ry thought engross;

  He longs to be baptized with blood,

He pants to reach the cross!

 

  With all his suff’rings full in view,

And woes to us unknown,

  Forth to the task his spirit flew;

’Twas love that urged him on.

 

  Lord, we return thee what we can!

Our hearts shall sound abroad,

  Salvation to the dying Man

And to the rising God!

 

  And while thy bleeding glories here

Engage our wond’ring eyes;

  We learn our lighter cross to bear,

And hasten to the skies.