Offering thanks to God for provided food at each meal and asking God to bless it… Does it really matter or is it simply a religious formality for Christians?
Well, first of all, it is an important act of thanksgiving and gratitude. God provides everything that nourishes us, and that we enjoy! Offering thanks and gratitude to God for his provision and blessings has a rich legacy and precedent in Scripture!
Secondly, I believe offering thanks is an important and effective testimony! I seek to do it publicly in cafeterias, restaurants, and even at banquets or provided meals at conferences, etc. I’ll even ask those at a gathered table for the privilege of taking a moment and offering thanks to God for the provided food. As parents, It is also a wonderful testimony and example to our children (because of the influence of my parents in this regard, as a child I always bowed my head in thanksgiving and prayed over my food in the cafeteria in public school… regardless of what my classmates may have thought or said!)
But there is another, almost overlooked, practical value for this practice! In my Bible reading today during my time of “Coffee with the Lord” I was reminded of it… Here it is in the words of Apostle Paul to Timothy:
“God created [food] to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.” (From 1 Timothy 4:3–5 ESV)
Is it taking Paul’s words to far to say, that beyond the thanksgiving offered, there is a “sanctifying,” (even purifying, even liberating) effect for a believer regarding the food set before them? In a culture where you may not have known the source or preparation procedures (or even if food had been consecrated to pagan gods), Paul’s words had a liberating and assuring effect.
Just take it from me… I’m going to continue to offer sincere thanksgiving and blessing over the food I eat – and I’m going to do it as a public testimony of my faith in and gratitude to God!
Coffee With The Lord 