May the mumbling commence!
Once we have found the Way that Christ has
laid before us, it is our job to stay the course – together. We need one another. If we try to stand alone, the chances of us
wandering off course increase significantly.
Let’s stay true to one another.
It’s a step toward walking the Way of Christ. Read Second Samuel chapter nine, where David
makes good on his promise to Jonathan and Saul.
One day David began wondering if anyone in Saul's family was still alive, for he had promised Jonathan that he would
show kindness to them. He summoned a man named Ziba, who
had been one of Saul's servants. "Are you Ziba?" the king asked.
"Yes sir, I am," Ziba
replied.
The king then asked him,
"Is anyone still alive from Saul's family? If so, I want to show God's
kindness to them in any way I can."
Ziba replied, "Yes, one of Jonathan's sons is still alive, but he is
crippled."
"Where is he?" the
king asked.
"In Lo-debar," Ziba
told him, "at the home of Makir son of Ammiel." So David sent for him and brought him from
Makir's home. His name was Mephibosheth;
he was Jonathan's son and Saul's grandson. When he came to David, he bowed low
in great fear and said, "I am your servant."
But David said, "Don't be afraid! I've asked you to come so that I
can be kind to you because of my vow to your father, Jonathan. I will give you
all the land that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you may live here
with me at the palace!"
Mephibosheth fell to the ground
before the king. "Should the king show such kindness to a dead dog like
me?" he exclaimed.
Then the king summoned Saul's
servant Ziba and said, "I have given your master's grandson everything
that belonged to Saul and his family.
You and your sons and servants are to farm the land for him to produce
food for his family. But Mephibosheth will live here at the palace with
me."
Ziba, who had fifteen sons and
twenty servants, replied, “Yes, my lord; I will do all that you have
commanded." And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly with David,
as though he were one of his own sons.
Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. And from then on, all the
members of Ziba's household were Mephibosheth's servants. And Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both
feet, moved to Jerusalem to live at the palace.
Mephibosheth had a place at the
king’s table because of the promise made to his father and grandfather. What kindness! And David expected nothing back in
return. In fact, there was little
tangible evidence of any gain at all.
David was staying true to his word – even to men who had died. May our vision be as clear! Clear our vision of obstructions that we
place there – just as the cleared the vision of Saul of Tarsus. Read from Acts chapter nine:
Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath. He was eager to
destroy the Lord's followers, so he went
to the high priest. He requested
letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking their cooperation in
the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them –
both men and women – back to Jerusalem in chains.
As he was nearing Damascus on
this mission, a brilliant light from heaven suddenly beamed down upon him! He fell to the ground and heard a voice
saying to him, "Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting
me?"
"Who are you, sir?"
Saul asked.
And the voice replied, "I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will
be told what you are to do."
The men with Saul stood
speechless with surprise, for they heard the sound of someone's voice, but they
saw no one! As Saul picked himself up off the ground, he
found that he was blind. So
his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. He remained there blind for three days. And all that time he went without food and
water.
Now there was a believer in
Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling,
"Ananias!"
"Yes, Lord!" he
replied.
The Lord said, "Go over to
Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you arrive, ask for Saul of Tarsus. He is praying to me right now. I have shown him a vision of a man named
Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him so that he can see
again."
"But Lord," exclaimed
Ananias, "I've heard about the terrible things this man has done to the
believers in Jerusalem! And we hear that
he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest every believer in
Damascus."
But the Lord said, "Go and
do what I say. For Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the
Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer
for me."
So Ananias went and found Saul.
He laid his hands on him and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who
appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you may get your sight back
and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
Instantly
something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. (Verses 1-18)
Regardless of what we may think,
only Christ can help us to see clearly.
Help us, O Lord, to help one another.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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