Because of Him, We Live

2 Samuel 9:1

New Living Translation (NLT)

One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

For Meditation

Imagine the day Ziba broke the news of King David’s invitation to Mephibosheth in Lo Debar (2 Samuel 9:1-8). The city’s name signified a rebellious place with no leader or shepherd, without order or pasture, and barren—not a place for anybody to desire to live. Such was the spiritual condition of the city where the disabled son of Jonathan lived, cut off from the richness of the land his grandfather once ruled. I can see his surprise.

“Who, me?”

“Yes, you, Mephibosheth. King David has thrown a banquet and every prominent person in the nation has gathered in Jerusalem. They will not sit down to dine until you join them at his table. Hurry up; for we can’t keep his Majesty waiting,” Ziba said.

Over in the palace at Jerusalem, the king’s children, generals, and dignitaries waited for the dinner to start. Their appetites mounting as they waited for this person, without whom dinner would not begin. “Who is he?” General Joab asked Absalom.

The door swings open, and Ziba announces the entrance of Mephibosheth, the crippled son of Jonathan, the king’s deceased best friend.

“What! Is this cripple the reason for our long wait?” Joab angrily asked Absalom.

David said, “Mephibosheth!”

“At your service,” he replied.

“Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan … and you will always eat at my table” (2 Samuel 9:6-7).

The beauty of grace; how marvelous!

Mephibosheth bowed and said, “What is your servant that you should notice a dead dog like me?”

Mephibosheth had fallen as a baby and become crippled in both feet and rendered undeserving to sit at the king’s table. He considered himself a dead dog. Still, David showed him royal kindness because of his father, Jonathan!

When we read Ephesians 2:8-9, let’s picture this scene and see ourselves in Mephibosheth—crippled in both feet, a wasted dead dog—but God noticed us and called us to Himself because of Christ Jesus. It is all grace! As Paul wrote to Titus:

At one time, we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:3-6)?

As recipients of this grace, can we show kindness to one another for the sake of Jesus? Can we share this love with a dying world because of what Christ has done for us?

Only our actions motivated by love for Christ will stand before Him in judgment.

Shalom

Prioritizing the Honor Due Jesus

Photo by SHVETS production on Pexels.com

John 5:12

New International Version – UK

So they asked him, ‘Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?’

For Meditation

His healing was instant and otherworldly. Who commands a human body to attention and wholeness like the Carpenter from Nazareth? His word had healed the man. He could go home to live an everyday life like he did before his predicament, but was it the goal of his healing? What about the man who healed him?

Jesus, in His mercy and grace, had purposefully come to the pool to heal this man. He chose not to heal anyone else. This was a profound privilege for the man, a cause for immense joy and deep thankfulness.

The day Jesus healed the man was a Sabbath, and the law of the Pharisees and Sanhedrin forbade carrying a burden. Picking his mat infringed on the Sabbath law, he therefore faced inquisition. So they asked him,

“Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk (12)?”

The man was in a state of perplexity. He could not comprehend Jesus, as He had slipped away from them. This leaves us with a mystery, inviting us to ponder over the man’s character and his encounter with Jesus at the temple later on.

Grace had healed him, and grace had more to do with his life, so the Lord warned him.

See, you are well again. Stop sinning, or something worse may happen to you (14).

You would think the man would go down at Jesus’s feet and thank Jesus for His grace that healed him, but he didn’t. Instead, he ran to the authorities and reported Jesus to them. Pleasing the authorities over the temple and its worship system became his priority instead of the Person the entire Levitical worship system represented. As Paul said in his exalted prosecution of humankind in his Epistle to the Romans:

“They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen” (Romans 1:25).

How much time do we commit to deepening our relationship with Jesus, our Savior, to commend Him to others by our lives and word?

The man was so preoccupied with pleasing the authorities that he missed a crucial opportunity. He failed to prioritize knowing and worshiping the Creator before whom he stood. This scenario, unfortunately, is all too familiar in our churches today. We often prioritize our leaders and the traditions we’ve established, neglecting the true worship of the Lord of the church.

The world asks us the same question the Jewish leaders asked the man: Who is the fellow who told you to get up, pick up your mat, and walk from your sin paralysis? Can we give a testimony that articulates the identity of Jesus to the inquiring world?

Let us pause and consider: have we spent enough time with Jesus, knowing Him and reflecting His image to the world? This is a question that each of us must answer for ourselves.

Refocus for Your Healing

Photo by Zeynep YILMAZ on Pexels.com

John 5:7

New International Version – UK

‘Sir,’ the invalid replied, ‘I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.’

For Encouragement

They gathered expectantly at the pool of Bethesda; a place believed to have healing powers. The angels were said to stir the water, and the first person to enter the pool after this stirring would be healed. Unfortunately, not all received their healing. Imagine the anticipation and struggle of the people and the disappointment that swept through the significant number of disabled— “the blind, the lame, [and] the paralyzed” (John 5:4).

The race to get in was a classic survival of the fittest among the disabled. How could this man, an invalid for thirty-eight years get ahead of this pack that included man relatively strong people like the deaf, dumb, leprous, or partially sighted?

Jesus walks in one day, and learns of the man’s condition, and asks him:

“Do you want to get well?”

The Lord always asks a question from a completely informed position. Nothing eludes His Omniscience. He asks only to focus the recipient’s attention on Him and incite faith for a miracle.

The man’s response was a classic blame game, revealing the heart that does not look within itself for clues and guidance but blames everybody for its circumstances.

‘Sir,’ the invalid replied, ‘I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.’

Step back for a second and observe the man’s argument. Yes, he wants to get well. That’s why he has stationed himself at the pool to wait for the angel’s visitation, which he considered his only hope for healing. However, the obstacles overwhelm him every time the pool gets stirred. Worse of all, people are selfish and inconsiderate.

“So don’t blame me, mister whoever you are.”

The man’s response echoes in the valley of despair everywhere these days, but how refreshing the mercy and grace of God in Christ.

Jesus did not rebuke the man, but just said,

“Get up! Pick up your mat and walk” (8).

These words, spoken with authority and love, transformed the man’s life in an instant, a demonstration of the power of Jesus to heal and restore.

Isn’t it sweet?

When you become overwhelmed and frustrated, the Prince of Peace says, take your eyes from the human objects of your hope and expectation. I am the Healer you have waited for, with the wrong focus all these years, and now I have come. Have faith in my word, and it will heal you.

Now, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”

The waiting was over. Anxiety had seized. Joy had replaced disappointment and frustration. After thirty-eight years, the invalid was whole again because the Savior intervened, and he will for you. This transformation, from a life of suffering and despair to one of joy and wholeness, is a testament to the power and love of Jesus.

So, stop worrying that nothing is working for you, and look to the Savior in you to bring glory to the Father in your situation. Yield to Him by faith and receive mercy and grace for a miracle in your time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

Shalom

Of Promises and Conditions

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Joshua 1:7

New International Version

 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.”

For Encouragement

In Joshua 1:8 b, God not only promised Joshua prosperous ways and success (NKJ), but He also reassured him of these blessings. The Standard College dictionary defines prosperous as successful; flourishing, and success as a favorable or expected outcome of something attempted. God emphasized His promise of guaranteed success in the undertakings of His servant in the Promised Land. This reassurance is what Joshua needed to hear, and I believe it is precisely what we all want to hear from God now.

It’s crucial not to overlook a vital aspect of this enticing promise from God—the conditions that are intricately tied to it.

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all written in it (8a).

It’s like taking medicine when we are sick. We want to be healed by it, but want nothing to do with its bitter taste. Believers do the same thing. We want the promises of God, but not the conditions that come with them. Drug manufacturers have found a way out by coating the pill, putting it in a capsule, or adding flavor to reduce the bitterness. Likewise, believers want to rationalize or manipulate God’s word to avoid the conditions. We claim these promises and pray all day long, hoping to twist the arm of God to make our ways prosperous and successful. However, nobody can manipulate God. His arm is too big and strong for any of us to twist. He means what He says, and He does not play favoritism. His word is unchangeable.

God’s message to Joshua was straightforward:

Obey my instructions and I will make your ways prosperous and give you outstanding success in the Promised Land. No one can stand before you and prevail all the days of your life. Only hold on to my word with a firm grip and let your stand be unwavering.

The summary above is the essence of being strong and courageous (vv. 6a, 7a, 9a). It’s not just a command, but a path to empowerment and responsibility. Obedience to God’s word is the key to unlocking His promises, and it’s in our hands if we take this challenge.

The outcome is stark and sobering. As long as Joshua lived, the people followed God and experienced success. Before his passing, he urged them to fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and truth … (and) choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve … (24:14-15) so they may continue to prosper. However, after his death, everyone did what was right in his own eyes (Judges 21:25). The result was not just a lack of prosperity, but failure and defeat instead of success. This serves as a stark reminder of the harsh consequences of not adhering to God’s instructions.

God promises us many things in the Bible, ours to claim for His glory. But many of them come with conditions we have to meet if we are to claim them. It’s not just about fulfilling these conditions, but also about having faith in God’s faithfulness and His ability to fulfill His promises. So, let’s determine to fulfill the conditions in His word, and the promises will be ours to claim.

If You Think You’re Standing

Luke 22:31-32

New International Version

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

For Meditation

The schemes of the devil are subtle and ensnaring. Without the Lord, we have no chance against them.

We feel spiritually solid and impregnable because we know our word and pray. People recognize our spiritual vitality and maturity. They respond with respect and come to us for counseling. When the allegation came against that brother for sexual impropriety, who else could they appoint to lead the investigation than us?

We breeze through the case without mercy. “How could he do such a thing after the Pastor’s excellent teaching and recent sermon series? And he is not even repentant enough.” So, we recommend the harshest disciplinary action and move on.

Sometime later, you travel on business. A meeting lingers, and you dine late and alone in the dimly lit hotel restaurant. The lady across from your table sends you an occasional parcel of smiles. You pay no attention at first, but she persists. You sit there with confidence and give her a cocky smile in response, “Not me, lady! Go get one of your types somewhere.”

The next day, you are on a flight home, lost in your thoughts. “How did it happen? How can I face my wife today? Do I have the guts to confess it? How will the church react if they hear about it?”

The fact is, we are very human and weak in this world without our Savior. We will always fall until we acknowledge this and humble ourselves under His Sovereign protection and constant intercession (Rm. 8:34). Pride is our worst enemy. Still, we can hardly believe we are swimming in its warm pool.

Follow the discourse of Jesus with the disciples at the Last Supper table with me as Dr. Luke tells the story, and let’s observe some things together.

Jesus warned the disciples against the leadership style of the world, recommended His servanthood model in its place (Lk. 22:24-30), and addressed Peter in his self-confident posture.

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail” (31-32).

To appreciate the force of Jesus’s statement, walk through Peter’s failures after this event with me. He slept in Gethsemane (45), followed the Lord at a distance after His arrest (54), denied the Lord three times as the Lord predicted (55-62), absent from the crucifixion scene (Matthew 27:55-56), failed to grasp the resurrection report from the women (Luke 24:11-12), and went back to his old business (John 21:3). It was all downhill until the Lord intervened and restored him after the fishing fiasco on the shores of the Sea of Tiberias (15-19). Do you see how worse things could have been for Peter without the Lord’s intercessory prayer?

So, let’s take the admonition of Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:12 seriously and appreciate Jesus’s current intercessory ministry in heaven on our behalf.

“If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

Shalom

Quenching That Thirst

Photo by eberhard grossgasteiger on Pexels.com

Psalm 42:2

New International Version (NIV)

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
    When can I go and meet with God?

For meditation

The Psalmist, in his poignant words, expresses a deep yearning for God’s presence, asking when he could go to meet Him in the temple (Psalm 42:1). This intense desire, like a fish out of water, is a palpable yearning to leave the dry place and enter God’s presence, the fountain of life, from whose presence flows streams of living water.

God is not just a part of his life, but the very essence of his being. The Psalmist has cultivated an intimate and dependent life with Him, which he cherishes. He thirsts for God as for water in the desert, especially when he cannot sense His presence (Psalm 42:2).

Today is Tuesday, the second day after that Spirit-filled worship service, where the Holy Spirit immersed us in Christ. Are you feeling a dryness already? Did dawn bring a yearning to be in His Presence for a closer and more intimate fellowship through the week?

Thank God for the Holy Spirit and the written Word; we don’t have to go into a physical building to secure His presence. Our bodies are His temple (1 Corinthians 6: 19).

Life has bumps and challenges of many kinds, and today is no exception. Perhaps it’s a tough conversation with a loved one, a demanding work project, or a health issue. Whatever it is, remember that dryness will come as you struggle through the busyness of your day. What will you miss the most, and what will you reach out for in those moments?

Imagine a stroll with Jesus through the woods, with the backdrop of waterfalls and chirping birds at such times. Isn’t that refreshing? Can you make that your experience with Christ in the word and prayer?

As a beloved disciple of Jesus, He has intricately woven your life into His, so you should miss Him when something drives a wedge between you and Him.

Paul said it this way.

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

Jesus was Paul’s life, and ours too, as believers.

Our Lord sought closeness with the Father while on earth, and He calls us to the same desire for intimacy with Him every day, especially when the going gets tough.

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” when they got so busy that they could not “even have a chance to eat (Mk. 6:31)?” This is the closeness He wants for us as His disciples, a time of rest and rejuvenation in His presence.

May we accept this call and step away with our Lord to a quiet place for Him to strengthen, refresh, and refocus us each day.

Shalom

Divine Caution

Photo by Sora Shimazaki on Pexels.com

Jeremiah 9:23-24

New Living Translation

This is what the Lord says:

“Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom,

    or the powerful boast in their power,

    or the rich boast in their riches.

But those who wish to boast

    should boast in this alone:

that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord

     who demonstrates unfailing love

    and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth,

and that I delight in these things.

    I, the Lord, have spoken!

For Meditation

That is all we can boast about—that we know Jesus and understand He is the Supreme King and Sovereign Lord—the only source of our contentment and joy.

Everything else is vanity, as King Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 1:14, a chasing after the wind. How useless could that be?

As Wiersbe comments:

“No amount of education, power, or wealth—three things the world today depends on and boasts about—can guarantee the blessing of God. God doesn’t delight in a nation’s learning, political influence, armies, or gross national product. He delights in a people who practice kindness, justice, and righteousness because they know and fear the Lord. God promises covenant blessings to those who obey Him, not to those who only submit to religious ceremonies.”

Throughout the annals of history, God has consistently displayed His unwavering love for His people, even in the most diverse and challenging circumstances. Consider how He shielded His people, the Jews, in Persia by thwarting the sinister plot of the proud and hateful Haman (Esther 6:6-12; 7:9-10). Despite Israel’s transgressions that led to their exile, God’s steadfast kindness and love for them remained. He dispensed justice by vindicating the innocent and punishing the guilty. In that foreign land, righteousness served as His banner, a constant reminder of how His people should live. His ways and standards should be the norm for His people.

Consider the end of all the tyrants of this world and know that God reigns over His creation to preserve His beloved and humble the proud and arrogant.

In this world marred by sin, we are called to serve this compassionate God. It is imperative, then, that we cast off our reliance on our own wisdom, strength, and wealth, and instead, embrace “Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30).

Let this divine wisdom and humility embrace you and rejoice in your salvation and intimacy with Christ through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ rest on you. Amen!

Confessions of the Wicked

Photo by Josh Hild on Pexels.com

Daniel 6:5

New International Version (NIV)

Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”

For Meditation

Consider the profound beauty of a dedicated life to God and how brightly it shines when put to the test. The life of a saint, despite the relentless examination of its detractors, stands strong. Their final confession often echoes, as in the case of Daniel, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man unless it has something to do with the law of his God.” This is a testament to the power of Jesus’ name, glowing even in the face of such intense scrutiny.

Daniel, a saint whose life is a beacon of strength, faced the hateful scrutiny of his detractors. They meticulously examined his life, hoping to find a flaw they could use against him before King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 6:4). Their intense dislike for this foreigner, who had become highly influential and favored by the king, led them to search for any wrongdoing. Yet, Daniel’s private life stood as a testament to his total obedience to God in that hostile environment. In his governance, they found no corruption because he was trustworthy, neither corrupt nor negligent (4b). How did he maintain such integrity?

Consider the Akan proverb, ‘If a festive day is going to be joyful, it starts from the beginning.’ This holds true for Daniel. His character resilience did not begin when he ascended to the Babylonian kingdom. From the start of his exiled life, he resolved not to defile himself with the pleasures of the royal court (Daniel 1:8). He dedicated himself to God for His honor, even in a foreign land. This unwavering dedication to God serves as a conduit for His grace to flow through.

The most striking part of the confession of the Satraps, governors, and administrators after their intense scrutiny of Daniel’s life is this: “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.” [Emphasis mine]. That is remarkable! This confession, born out of their inability to find fault in Daniel’s life, speaks volumes about the power of his dedication to God’s law.

The only place they could entrap him was to bring his dedication to the law of his God against that of Nebuchadnezzar. And that’s where they succeeded because nobody could stop him from praying to Yahweh—not even the threat of the lion’s den (Daniel 6:5-17).   

Is your life a testament to Christ’s teachings? Can it withstand the scrutiny of your workplace, home, neighborhood, country, or even the church? These are not just questions, but invitations for deep reflection.

Something to think about today.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit strengthen you to live dedicated to Him like Daniel. Amen. 

Shalom

The Dearest of Thoughts

Genesis 18:17

New Living Translation

 “Should I hide my plan from Abraham?” the Lord asked.

For Encouragement

People’s opinion. How powerful it is in our lives. It is so powerful it has become one, if not the most decisive, influence in most people’s lives. What do people think about us? What would they say about this? How are they going to receive what we have to say?

If we could dive into people’s minds and know their thoughts, humanity may have become extinct long ago, but we don’t because we are human. If we knew the thoughts some people have about us, we may be tempted to wish them dead. So, thank God for Deuteronomy 29: 29. You are not a murderer.

Since we cannot know what happens in other people’s minds, we hope and are thankful when they reveal their thoughts to us. Nobody tells others about their intimate thoughts, but only when their relationship is deep and robust, with trust as its foundation — the reason we cherish friendship. This confidence is the comfort and reassurance we find in our relationship with God through Jesus, the best friend we could ever have.

In John 15:14-15, Jesus said to His disciples in the Upper Room Discourse:

“You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends since I have told you everything the Father told me.”

Jesus had handpicked His disciples, inviting them to be in His presence and learn from Him. He intended for them to carry His message to the world once His earthly mission was complete (Mark 3:13-15). They had indeed learned well, except for the betrayer. Now, the teacher was about to reveal the depth of their relationship, which had developed from a teacher-student dynamic to an intimate friendship. Jesus had fostered a bond of trust, enabling Him to share everything His Father had shared with Him.

Many years before His earthly mission, Jesus chose another friend in whom He built confidence, Abraham, who did everything He told him to do (Genesis 18:18-19).

Imagine the scene where Abraham saw his three heavenly visitors off after their visit. They pause in the way, and the Pre-incarnate Jesus, one of the three, asks the others:

“Should I hide my plan from Abraham?”

How sweet! How profound!

How did Abraham get to that level of intimacy with God? Go back to Genesis 12 and follow the relationship of the two to this point. And that is not all.

Chapter 22 will reveal more about Abraham’s obedience to the Lord, who called him out of his people and his father’s household (12:1-3) to walk with Him by faith. Why would God keep anything from him, even His plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, where Lot, Abraham’s nephew, lived?

Just as God had called Abraham and the twelve disciples out of the world for a specific purpose, He calls us for the same reason. He yearns for our obedience and trust, as these are the keys that unlock His most intimate thoughts. Do you share this desire? Then walk with Him in obedience and reverence. Psalm 25:14 beautifully encapsulates this sentiment.

“The Lord is a friend to those who fear him. He teaches them his covenant.”

Shalom