DATE POSTED Friday, 2022-08-26
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 2 Samuel 9:6-8
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁶ …. When he arrived, Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, grandson of Saul, laid facedown on the floor and honored the king.
David: Mephibosheth!
Mephibosheth: At your service, my king.
David: ⁷ There’s no need to be frightened. I intend to treat you kindly for the sake of your father, Jonathan, who was my loyal friend. I will return to you all the territory that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always be welcome at my table.
⁸ Mephibosheth again prostrated himself before the king.
Mephibosheth: What am I to you that the king should look with favor on a dead dog like me? I am as one of your servants.

APPLICATION: Although we personally would never do this (ha ha), there are many who will make a promise on a whim, with little hope of ever fulfilling that promise, especially if the person is dead and gone. This might be expected from an unbeliever, because they have no basis on which to fulfill their promise regardless of the circumstances between them and the person they made a promise to. But with the child of God, I believe that we could read for ourselves how God was faithful in all that He promised. To our ancestors, God promised forgiveness of their sin through the sacrifices and blood of animals. Later He sent His only Son for the atonement of our sin, and at that same time, God promised that anyone who would believe in His Son and accept Him as Lord of their life, they would experience forgiveness of their sin, and be considered holy even in the presence of an omnipotent and holy God. One thing that God has always proven to mankind, even from the very beginning of time, is that anything He promises, can be considered complete – forevermore, right up to and until He returns or takes us home to heaven. In Acts 13:22, we are told that God considered David to be a man after His own heart. As such, perhaps it is easier for us to understand why David did what he did for Mephibosheth, for if he didn’t, would we ever think about counting him as a God-like person? I believe the challenge for Christians in today’s Scripture is that we also are expected to be Christ-like, and to live according to all that He teaches us in His Word. How do you suppose God might look at us? A man/woman after God’s own heart? Is it common for us to honor promises we made to our deceased parents, to our best friend? or even to God? Can the world say about us, compare us to David, and say about us – ‘he/she is or was a man/woman after God’s own heart’? Is it obvious in our promises, our actions and our words? Friends, God not only sees our outward actions and evidence of our promises, but He knows our very heart? Will you automatically respond from your heart like God would? If there is any doubt, may I suggest that you consider drawing close to God so that He might draw close to you and direct your path? Be sure that you have a ‘relationship’ with Jesus Christ, God’s Son, and not just had a passing glance at Him when you attended church once while under pressure from a parent or a friend. More of Jesus into your life, will result in more of Jesus out of your life through your words and actions. Daily intake from His Word and daily conversation with Him through prayer will make all the difference in this world, and the next.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: David allowed so much of God into his life, that his words, actions and promises reflected what God would do and say, not just what ordinary man would do.

PRAYER: Lord, only You really know the heart of man. Despite the failures by David, yet You knew that he had a heart that was compassionate, forgiving, loving unconditionally, sacrificial, and enduring – just like You. There are times that we wonder if we could ever be like You, for we cave into every trick of Satan and his demons, that seem to be on the lookout for us wherever we go. Forgive us Lord for assuming that You will just lay on Your goodness and Your character, while we continue to live like the world. Oh, that You would bless us with a heart like Yours, so that we may desire to know You better and to practice the instructions You gave to us in Your Holy Word. You made lots of promises to us who are called by Your name, please embolden us and give us strength and desire to always keep our promises in being Your faithful servants here among the evil that surrounds us much of the time. I want to be just like You, Lord, but I can only do that under Your strength, guidance and provision. Be glorified today through Your faithful servants, is my humble plea. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!