FELLOWSHIP AT OUR LORD'S TABLE

Following the pointing finger experience on our church parking lot I felt out of fellowship with other church members and believed that I could not share in communion.

The apostle Paul told us in I Corinthians 11: 28 - 32. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

While I still felt the presence of the Lord in my life I was clearly out of fellowship with other church members. I struggled with this issue until I came across some scripture in the book of Leviticus which clearly showed that Our Lord wanted me to fellowship at His table.

Yes, He invites the divorced to His table and He understands us! In my book I relate it as follows: (Pgs 79-80)

In Leviticus 22, God Himself speaks of who may and may not eat at the priest's table. At least ten times in this chapter, God refers to "holy things" that are hallowed to Him. In Leviticus 22:13, the widow and divorced woman are placed on the same level of treatment by their priest father.

The clear implication is that the divorced woman and her minor children should also be included in the circle of care. They are suffering from the death of a relationship. Fellowship around the Lord's Table is a strong symbol of acceptance and support, especially needed by those suffering along the pathway of divorce.

"But if the priest's daughter is a widow or divorced, and has no child, and has returned to her father's house as in her youth, she may eat of her father's food, but no outsider shall eat it."

The very meat offered to God and returned by Him to the priest shall be eaten by the divorced daughter! Imagine, a dinner planned by God, and commanded by Him to be eaten by a worthless-feeling, divorced person! Oh, what unconditional love coming out of the Book of the Law. How can the church, under grace, do any less than to invite the penitent divorced person to fellowship fully with it?

In my book I provide further details on how the offering referred to equates with the Lord's Supper in the New Testament. Burdened soul, examine your heart, God declares you worthy to eat at His table.

In my heart I knew that Jesus understood my trauma of divorce. But, Jesus was never married how could He truly understand? Then I discovered that metaphorically speaking He was divorced. (pg 87)

Many times I have heard and said, "No one understands like Jesus." Hebrews 4:15 clearly states, "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."

Then one day while I was reading in the book of Jeremiah, I came upon a verse that read, "Then I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel committed adultery, I had put her away, and given her a certificate of divorce." (Jeremiah 3:8) My Lord was divorced! He knew exactly how I felt. What a marvelous revelation that was! But I must know more. How did He handle His feelings regarding His divorce?

One only has to look at Chapters two and three of Jeremiah to see God's great heartache over the loss of his bride, Israel. How much He had done for her. Even though He pleaded with her to return to Him she rejected Him and played the harlot.

YES, our Lord understands our heartache and wants to bring healing into our lives. He invites us to fellowship at His table.

Please join me next week when we look at the HEALING of a FRACTURED Self Image. Our Lord is FAITHFUL in His promises. There is HOPE and Healing in His plan for your life.