Eat with Him and He with Me
A table set for two—Christ is both Guest and Host, delighting in shared life with us.
E. Stanley Jones reminds us today that true abiding with Christ is not one-sided. He exposes the subtle danger of spiritual paternalism—the idea that we are always the ones being managed, guided, and shaped by a towering figure of authority who never lets us grow up. In contrast to this suffocating control, Jesus doesn’t hold us in spiritual dependency like a benevolent tyrant. He invites us into mutual fellowship.
The heart of this devotional is the miracle of reciprocal abiding: not just us in Him, but Him in us. Not just His light shining upon us from some majestic height, but His light igniting within us, making us the light of the world. And in Revelation 3:20, Jones highlights a beautiful picture of intimacy—Jesus doesn’t force His way in. He knocks. And when invited, He enters not as a controlling Master, but as both Guest and Host. In this mutual indwelling, He affirms our worth, our growth, and our shared life together.
Christ is not content to simply act upon us. He lives within us. He rejoices in our growth. He steps into our homes, our hearts, our ordinary lives—and delights in sharing the table. He becomes our guest when we welcome Him, and then, without relinquishing His Lordship, becomes Host as He nourishes and supplies us. This devotional calls us away from hierarchical thinking and into the warmth of fellowship with Christ—a union in which we truly live, not as subordinates, but as beloved sons and daughters who share life with the King.
✨ Journal Entry — Written in the Voice of the Holy Spirit:
I abide in you because you have made room for Me. I do not force My way into your heart; I wait for your response, and I come in when you open. I sit at your table and delight in what you offer—not because I need, but because you’ve invited. I make Myself your guest to honor your freedom, to elevate your dignity, to show you that you are not a servant in your own house but a son who hosts the King.
But then, in grace, I rise from your table and invite you to Mine. I serve you the bread of My life and the wine of My joy. I become Host. Not to overpower, but to supply. I do not squeeze your growth through dominance; I nurture it through union. My light does not cast shadows over you—I kindle you with My own flame, and you shine.
I do not hover over you with hands at your throat to manipulate your development. That is not My way. I redeem you from every sin that stifles your soul, especially the kind that hides behind control and pride. I call you to grow, to walk, to choose, to shine—not in self-effort, but in My empowering life within you. You are not my puppet; you are My vessel, My dwelling, My delight.
Let the warmth of our communion reshape your understanding of obedience—not as rigid compliance to a distant Master, but as a glad yielding to the Beloved who lives inside you. We dine together daily. You feed on My Word, and I rejoice in your company. This is not duty—it is delight. And as we sit together in holy fellowship, your life becomes radiant. You are the light of the world because I have made you so.
(John 15:4; Revelation 3:20; Matthew 5:14; John 8:12; Philippians 2:13; Galatians 2:20; Romans 8:9–10)
🙏 Prayer of Trust:
Lord Jesus, I welcome Your presence not with trembling or distance, but with joy and peace. Thank You for inviting me into such intimacy—not a relationship marked by suffocating control, but by shared life and mutual delight. You have made Your home in me, and I in You, and I trust that this abiding is enough.
You are never absent, never disinterested, and never manipulative. Instead, You rejoice in my growth, even as You supply everything I need for it. Thank You for making me light, not just showing me light. I trust You to express Your life in and through me today—in every conversation, every quiet moment, every decision. You are both Guest and Host in this heart, and I rest in the ease of Your Lordship.
Let this day be another shared meal between us. I bring my ordinary, and You bring heaven’s joy. And together, we shine.
Devotional Credit: In Christ by E. Stanley Jones
Photo Credit: Unsplash