II Samuel 9-11
What an inspiring story! David wants to make sure that he honors anyone who is left from the “house of Saul” – for Jonathan’s sake. (Remember, David and Jonathan had made a covenant that they would remain faithful to each other). So he inquires, and the only descendant remaining is a lame man, Mephibosheth. The man is summoned, and comes with fear and trembling. He is frightened, because the custom is that the descendants of the last regime will be killed.
Boy, is he in for a surprise! David welcomes him as part of the household. He is to eat at the king’s table and Saul’s remaining servants are to serve him. He is still treated as royalty!
That’s the way the Lord sees us – and our children. We are in covenant with Him, and we are invited to eat at the King’s table, along with our descendants. So many of us are like Mephibosheth. We either don’t realize our place, or we think we are too unworthy to eat at the table of the King.
In our own right, we are unworthy. Yet we are made worthy by the blood of Jesus. There is a place for us at the table, and He wants us to be there. All we have to do is receive what He has done for us.
I pray that you and I will grow in our understanding of the tremendous gift having been given to us by Jesus. And I pray that we will receive it! Let’s dine with the King!
One more quick note. Do you notice in 10:7 where David’s army is called the “mighty men?” Well, obviously, these men have grown some. If you look at I Samuel 22:2, you’ll see where they came from. It says, “everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented, gathered themselves to David; and he became captain over them.”
They may have started as a ragtag army, but now they are “mighty men.” They are like us! Sometimes we start our walk with the Lord in distress, in debt, and discontented – broken and insecure. Yet if we stick with our Lord – letting Him instruct us everyday, building us up – we will wind up His mighty men.
That’s what I want to be. One of His mighty ones.
Luke 15:11-32
There is nothing that touches the heart of the Father or His heavenly host like a prodigal son who has returned.
Over the years, as my husband and I have pastored, we have seen many people return. Often, they think that their sinful lives have ruled them out of the Kingdom. They think that there is no way that God could ever forgive them for what they have done.
They are wrong when they think that way. God is a loving God, whose arms are always open for those who want Him. There is no sin and no situation which will separate us – if we want to return.
You’ll notice that the Father didn’t go looking for the son. He let him go his way. That’s the way our Father is. If we are determined to seek our own way and leave Him, He’ll let us go.
Yet if we want to return, He will run to meet us, give us a ring and a robe – signifying the new “robe of righteousness”- and throw a party on our behalf. All of the angels in heaven rejoice over one sinner who has come back to the Lord.
There is no condemnation, no “I told you so,” only open arms and rejoicing.
It’s important for us to realize that our Father sees it this way for ourselves and for others. Maybe we have never been prodigals; maybe we have always served Him. That’s great. But we must remember that this is His attitude toward those who have left the fold for a season.
When they return, they should be welcomed by us – just as our Father is welcoming them.
I pray that there will be many prodigals who are right now making their way back to the Lord. I want to be ready to receive them – full of mercy and kindness.
