Building One Another  

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. I Thessalonians 5:11

Enjoy a Lingering Meal!

Mealtime today is often an interruption between Activity A and Activity B.  For Jesus, meal time was an Activity A, indeed, Jesus often ate with his disciples.

“So, they gave a dinner [deipnon] for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table.” John 12:2*

The Greek word deipnon is translated feast, banquet, supper, dinner.  Years ago, I remember reading someone translate deipnon as “the lingering meal.”

The deipnon was the main meal of the day and not just inserted between activities, it was one of “the” activities.

Deipnon meant three things:  food, conversation, and lingering – and the food was secondary.  The primary function of the deipnon was to talk – to be “with” one another - to speak of what was happening in your lives and in the world around you.

Furthermore, when we eat with fellow followers of Jesus, he joins us, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."  Matthew 18:20

There are few more effective and delightful ways to grow relationships and to build people than to enjoy a daily deipnon, a shared meal, a lingering meal with:  anyone who lives in your home on a daily basis.

              with those who are already dear friends of your heart.

                       with those whom you would like to grow deeper in friendship.

Make a lingering meal a regular part of your daily life!

One day you will share in the most wonderful lingering meal of them all: “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” Revelation 19:9

Joy to you -- E. Stanley Ott            

© Copyright 2020 E. Stanley Ott

‍

Ask yourself serveral questions about your meals

1. Is there a "main" meal of the day such as an evening dinner?
2. Do you share that meal with others?
3. Is the meal quickly eaten or do you linger?
4. Is conversation the main focus of your shared time together if others are with you?

How can you:

1. Slow your meal down?

2. Invite others to join you using Zoom, FaceTime or another online platform if you cannot eat together in physical presence?

3. Introduce interesting topics of conversation (try putting "topics of conversation" into Google).

‍

‍