[This reflection by Dazz & HBC Team was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 23/Nov/2025]
This verse seems to be following me around at the moment … One of the loveliest images in the Bible, it’s a line from Psalm 23: “You prepare a table before me”. It’s such a simple picture, yet it says so much about God. When you prepare a table for someone, you’re saying, “You’re welcome. I’ve made space for you”. David wants us to know that this is exactly what God is like. I tried to explore that with our leadership team this week and thought I’d reiterate it more widely here
What’s surprising is where the table is set – “in the presence of my enemies”. In other words, right in the middle of life’s pressures, worries, and difficult moments, God invites us to sit down with Him. He doesn’t ask us to get everything sorted first. He simply says, “Come. Rest. Be with Me.”
I think this speaks into who we’re called to be as a church. Before we put on events or sort out rotas, we’re invited to be people who set tables – places of welcome, honesty, and kindness. Some of the most important ministry happens not in big moments but in small ones: a chat over a cuppa, a listening ear, a seat saved for someone who needs it.
So here’s a simple question for us this month:
Who might God be prompting you to invite to the table?
– Someone in your neighbourhood? A new face at church? Someone carrying a quiet burden?
And another question:
– Where is God inviting you to sit with Him?
May we be a church that receives God’s welcome – and passes it on generously.
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Last Sunday’s reflection: Too Big To Be A Family? by Dennis Ginter
Contributed by Dazz & HBC Team; © Dazz & HBC Team