Earth's Curse & Feasting - The Prepared Table: Day 8
Song of Praise: Doxology
Scriptures: Genesis 3:1-19 & John 6:22-40
Devotional:
Everyone loves a feasting celebration. There are few pleasures greater than good food and good fellowship. Why do you think we love holiday celebrations or birthday parties? We are created to combine mouthwatering food, and precious fellowship into a joyful celebration.
Celebrations of this nature are the antithesis to the curses placed on Adam and Eve. Adam's toils and sweat were redeemed by Jesus' completed work on the cross. Eve ruined the peaceful fellowship between God and mankind; through Christ, we can now enjoy renewed fellowship. Feasting is how a Christian fights. Feasting is rebellion against Satan and his regime. Feasting is spiritual. Jesus restored us back into fellowship with God and promises us that God will care for our needs. Famine and disunity have been confronted with Christ's sacrifice. Jesus was the victor, and He revoked the curse's power. Whatever happened to the curse that God placed on the Earth? Remember in Genesis when God cursed the ground?
The very Earth itself has been groaning, waiting for the day when it will be fully renewed and restored (Romans 8:22-24) The Earth's curse kept the ground from easily providing nourishment and sustenance. It takes hard work to get food to grow from a cursed ground, doesn't it?
Jesus told His disciples that they should not simply long for physical bread, but for "He who comes down from heaven and gives hope to the world". Jesus called Himself, "the Bread of Life". Whoever feasts on Jesus will not go hungry. Physical food may satisfy us temporarily, but we will soon become hungry again. Jesus does not simply offer us enough food to keep us alive, instead, He makes a feast for us at His table, in His eternal presence.
When Jesus died on the cross, the Earth shook with anticipation. It knew that it's Creator died to redeem it from the curse of sin. Jesus' death did not just remove the curse for His people, but for all of the cosmos as well. Even the Earth knew how important Jesus' sacrifice was, that is why it shuddered in awe. In that moment of selfless love, the whole of creation lay in wait for it's renewal and restoration. The resurrection of Christ is the first fruit of the new administration. We feast in joy, eagerly awaiting the day when all things will be made perfect.
Table Talk Questions:
How is feasting the opposite of the curses God gave to Adam and Eve?
Has Jesus began to restore the Earth from its curse?
How is Jesus better than physical food?
Benediction:
May the Lord bless you and keep you;
May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26
Today's Meal
Simple Shepherd's Pie, Bacon Cheddar Biscuits, & Raspberry Oatmeal Bars
Recipes:
Simple Shepherd's Pie
Prep and Cook Time: 1 ½ hours
Serves: 6
8-9 medium Potatoes
¼ cup Butter
¼ cup Milk
1 pound Hamburger
1 Onion
1 can Green Beans (drained)
1 can Carrots (drained)
1 can Corn (drained)
1 can Peas (drained)
Salt
Pepper
1 ½ teaspoons Garlic powder
Instructions:
Add peeled and diced potatoes to a large pot of heavily salted water, bring to boil.
Cook until potatoes are soft and can be mashed.
Mash potatoes with ½ tsp salt and pepper, milk, and butter.
The potato mixture should be smooth and spreadable, this will serve as your pie ‘crust’.
Spread half of this potato mixture to the bottom and sides of a large oven safe bowl or pan.
Set to the side.
In a large pot, brown hamburger with your chopped onion.
Add ½ tsp salt and pepper.
Add 1 tsp garlic powder.
Add all drained veggies and mix well.
Taste to see if the seasoning is right, add more if needed.
Add the meat/veggies mix to the inside of your pie.
Use remaining mashed potato mix to form a top to your pie.
Bake at 350 F for about 40-45 minutes
Bacon Cheddar Biscuits
Prep and Serve Time: 45 minutes
Yields: 12
Biscuits:
2 cups All-Purpose Flour
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
1/2 lb of Bacon
1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1 teaspoon Salt
6 Tablespoons cold Butter, cubed
1 ½ cups shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 cup Milk
Topping:
3 Tablespoons Butter
½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
½ teaspoon dried Parsley
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 425 F
Biscuits:
In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, garlic powder, and salt.
Whisk or stir to combine so that everything is evenly distributed.
Add the cubed cold butter.
Using a pastry blender, a fork, or two butter knives, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
Stir in cheese and fried, drained, crumbled bacon.
Add milk; stir just until everything is combined and there is no dry flour.
The dough will be somewhat wet and sticky.
Don’t over mix the dough.
Drop spoonfuls of dough onto a sheet pan. (you will get 12 biscuits)
Bake for 16-18 minutes or just until the biscuits are lightly golden.
They should not be brown. Be careful not to overcook them.
Topping:
While the biscuits are baking, melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat.
Add the garlic powder and parsley; stir to combine.
As soon as the biscuits come out of the oven, brush with the topping.
Raspberry Oatmeal Bars
Prep and Cook Time: 45-60 minutes
Yields 1- 8x8 pan
2 sticks Butter, softened
¾ cup packed Brown Sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2 cups All-Purpose Flour
½ cup Old Fashioned Oats
½ teaspoon Salt
1 container (6 ounces) fresh or frozen Raspberries
¾ cup seeded Raspberry Preserves
Instructions:
Heat over to 375 F.
Line a 8x8 inch baking pan with foil or parchment, leaving a 2 inch overhang on long sides.
In a mixer, beat butter and brown sugar until smooth, add in vanilla, scraping down sides of bowl.
On low speed, beat in flour, ½ cup oats, and salt until dough comes together.
Press 2 cups dough into bottom of prepared pan in a thin layer.
Bake 10 min.
In a medium bowl, stir together raspberries, and raspberry preserves.
Remove pan from oven, spread raspberry mixture over crust and sprinkle with remaining crumbs. Return to oven and bake 25 minutes.
Cool. Cut into bars.