Scripture: "So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate at the king’s table regularly. Now he was lame in both feet." 2 Samuel 9:13 NASB1995 "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." 2 Corinthians 5:8 KJV Application: We may chuckle a little when we read about Mephibosheth. Not because of him and his condition, but how the writer of 2 Samuel refers to him in both his first and last introduction: "So Mephibosheth ... was lame in both feet." 2 Samuel 9:13 Wow, was that necessary? But then think of ourselves. Realistically, probably nobody on earth will know of us or talk about us maybe 25, 50, and certainly 100 years after we're dead. Maybe just 5 or 10 years even! That's life. And if they do, it's probably going to be just one boiled down element of us that we'd probably say from heaven, "is THAT all you can say about me?!" Be OK with that, because we'll be with the Lord (2 Cor 5:8). Our time on earth won't be long: "I am passing like a shadow when it lengthens..." Psalms 109:23 How the world sees us is of little consequence. Just pray to live each day in Godly service and thankfulness. Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, I'm glad I know that You have already prepared a place for me with You in eternity. So worldly recognition now or ever means nothing to me for my time on earth or the time to come after I die. Because I really won't be dead, will I? I'll be with You forever. Meanwhile, while I live here on this earth, empower and encourage me to live a simple life of joy for me, my loved ones, and others, and to help people who will never, ever know my name. Amen. Scripture: 'Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend, And do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away. ' Proverbs 27:10 "When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home." John 19:26, 27 "For even [Jesus'] own brothers did not believe in him." John 7:5 "Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Matt 12: 48-50 Application: In times of need, our family is our fellow believers. Prayer: Father, let me be a brother to Your children, and show me my sisters and brothers everyday. Amen Scripture: '“What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, ‘The fathers eat the sour grapes, But the children’s teeth are set on edge’?" Ezekiel 18:2 NASB "4Will you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? Make them know the abominations of their fathers; 30Therefore, say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Will you defile yourselves after the manner of your fathers and play the harlot after their detestable things? 43There you will remember your ways and all your deeds with which you have defiled yourselves; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for all the evil things that you have done." Ezekiel 20:4,30,43 NASB "Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there." John 8:8,9 NASB Application: The Bible will prick our hearts right where it hurts. Areas we think we're clean in will be revealed as filthy. We can rightfully say that we're not accountable for the sins of our forefathers, but wait. Allow Jesus to "write on the ground" of our hearts. Why do we have discomfort still? Allow conviction to do its work. Allow conviction to save our souls. Allow conviction to stop us from unjustly hurting other people when we ourselves could just as easily be the ones being hurt ...or even killed. Prayer: Lord, Father Almighty, now we are unafraid to face up to our own wrongdoing in areas where we thought we were clean. Amen. |
Archives
May 2023
© 2017 damwriter
All Rights Reserved |