The King's Table

"'Don't be afraid!' David said.

'I intend to show kindness to you

because of my promise to your father, Jonathan.

I will give you all the property that once belonged

to your grandfather Saul,

and you will eat here with me at the king's table!'"

2 Samuel 9:7 NLT

His father was dead.  With his death, the end of peace in the land also arrived, with the people turning toward false gods and idols, bowing down to carved images.  He believed he was a natural-born leader and, against his father's values and ideals, hatched a plan to make it happen.  Once he received the support of his mother's family, he set about taking the throne by force, killing all but one of his brothers.  With his competition out of the way, Abimelech was free to rule the nation of Israel. (Judges 8:33-9:6)

It agrees with human nature to do away with any possible rivals when taking on a new position of power.  There is always the fear that someone else could overthrow the new leader's cabinet and force his way into position.  History is filled with stories of military coups, revolution and rebellion against an established government.  Therefore, it would be expected that David, upon institution of his new kingdom, would do away with his former rival.  Without performing this seemingly necessary slaughter of Saul's kin, there was always the chance that someone would rise up and claim the throne as his rightful own.

Surprisingly, David does not even consider such a measure.  Instead, he intends to show kindness to the line of Saul, searching for his relatives in an effort to restore them to their intended position as offspring of the king.  Out of respect for the promise he made to Saul's son, Jonathan, he would always show compassion for his enemy's kin. (1 Samuel 20:17)

David showed mercy to Saul's family for Jonathan's sake.  In the same way that David intended to keep that promise made to Jonathan, God is a God who is even more faithful and intends to keep the pledge made to Abraham to bless all people of the earth through him. (Genesis 12:3)  As a result, I can trust in what He says He will do through Jesus Christ His son.

Family

In an attempt to make me feel at home, my host told me that I was welcome to any food in the kitchen, to help myself to towels in the linen closet and to make myself comfortable.  Even though I wasn't born into their family, they were treating me as if I were a blood relative.

Similarly, God demonstrates His own love for me by sacrificing His own Son so that I could be adopted into His family. (1 John 3:1) As a daughter by faith in Jesus Christ, I can claim all the privileges of His natural Son.  In fact, I am considered a co-heir with Christ! (Romans 8:17)  

This means I can call God "Father" in the most intimate sense.  I can also expect to be cared for as a loving Dad tends to his own children's needs.  (Matthew 6:32)  When I am hurting, my Father will comfort me in a way that no one else can.  (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)  

As His child, I can also expect discipline in order to teach me how to live in accordance to His will.  If He didn't love me, He would simply leave me to my own devices, letting me run off the path of life.  Instead, He cares enough, as any good father does, to teach me the hard lessons of life.  (Hebrews 12:7-8)

Based on the lavish love of a God who keeps His promises, I am invited to become a part of His family through faith in Jesus Christ.

Abundant Life

The daily grind.  She hunkered down and got to work, praying for strength to get through each moment as it came.  The joy was gone, but she was making it by the skin of her teeth.  Even though she found no peace within her heart, she was thankful for her life.  Still, it seemed there should be something more.

It's easy to slip into survival mode, running from one activity to the other, struggling to pay the bills and keep the family healthy while providing for their needs, yet never taking a moment to enjoy the day God has graciously given.  If I'm not careful, I end up existing instead of flourishing as God intended.  In the place of blooming, I wither like those who don't know the Giver of life. (John 1:4)

Jesus came not just to give me eternal life, although the assurance of a heavenly home gives me much hope in times of struggle.  Jesus Christ went through 33 years of human existence culminating with a brutal death on a Roman cross so that I could live an abundant, rich, meaningful life. (John 10:10, Romans 5:17) So often I miss out on such bounty.

I'm too busy going after the same things the world values: beauty, success, riches.  I fail to notice the worth of a gentle touch, a kind word, or a thoughtful gift.  I'm so caught up in running after my own fleshly desires that I miss the divine offering of a bird's serenade, or a lovely blossom, or the melody of rain in the trees.  I often miss the simple pleasure found in a heart at peace, a life forgiven, and a hope eternal.  My life is no life at all; it is simply an existence.

Based on the generosity of a God who keeps His promises, I am offered an abundant life through faith in Jesus Christ.

Freedom

She lived on the edge, constantly in fear of being discovered.  Her past life was sure to catch up with her.  The woman believed it was only a matter of time before the authorities would track her down and give her what she deserved.  Still, she tried to live her new life as normally as possible, willing herself to find happiness in her new surroundings.

In the same way this fugitive from justice lived a life in constant fear of being found out, I can easily slip into this same mindset, living with a cloud of my sin hanging over me.  The thing is, Jesus did not die a criminal's death so that I would live in guilt and shame.  He did not willingly endure such torture so that I would live in fear of God's condemnation.  He did not allow Himself to be nailed to that cross and separated from His Father because of my sin so that I could go on living as if I were still bound to my sin.

Jesus died so that I could be free from sin.  The shackles with which my flesh once bound me have been broken. (Romans 6:18) My sin has been removed from me so that all God sees when He looks at me is the righteousness of Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21)  The guilty verdict my sin earns me has been overturned.  (Romans 6:23, 8:1) Therefore, there is no guilt or shame: I am a sinner saved by grace and am always forgiven due to Jesus' sacrifice. (1 John 1:9)

Once I understand the love of God and His willingness to accept me as His own through faith in Jesus Christ, I can realize the security of such a position.  I no longer have anything to fear; I have been set free from the judgement my sin requires. (1 John 4:18)  

Therefore, I can live with a clear conscious, not beating myself up for all the ways I fall short or for the sin I am powerless to resist. (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8) Instead of giving in to the inevitable, I can live in tandem with God's Spirit, producing fruit I have never before seen in my own life.  Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control are all mine, flowing from the Spirit of God dwelling within me. (Galatians 5:16-25)  Instead of having no choice but to follow my flesh, I am empowered to be able to choose to go where God is leading me.

Based on the grace and mercy of a God who keeps His promises, I have freedom in Christ.

David mercifully invited Mephibosheth to dine at the king's table out of his desire to keep the promise he made to Jonathan.  Similarly, God will never go back on the pledge He made to Abraham to bless all of mankind through his bloodline.  As a result, through faith in Jesus Christ, an earthly descendant of Abraham and the Son of God Himself, I can enjoy the fruit of God's great love.  Through faith I am adopted into His family, am invited to live an abundant life, and have been mercifully given freedom from the burden of my own sin.  In these ways, I have been offered a place at the King of king's table.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can take God at His word and accept the free gift of salvation He offers through Jesus Christ.

How do I refuse to partake in these gifts so graciously offered to me?

When am I merely surviving instead of thriving?  

Children of Promise

"In other words,

it is not the natural children

who are God's children,

but it is the children of the promise

who are regarded as Abraham's offspring."

Romans 9:8

I confidently approached the imposing gate in my SUV.  Security officers, Military Police and bomb-sniffing dogs guarded the way, stopping me in my tracks.

"May I see your identification please, Ma-am?"  The guard took the military ID card I offered and stepped back to check the sticker affixed to the windshield of my vehicle.  After scanning my card with a handheld device and finding everything to his satisfaction, he returned my card and said, "Welcome to Ft Jackson, victory starts here!"  After stepping back sharply, he waves me on with, "Have a nice day, Ma-am."

In order to gain access to a military facility, I must have the proper authorization.  Only those who work on the post or are affiliated with the military are allowed onto the premises.  If I showed up without the proper sanctions, I would be required to go through a screening process that would verify my driver's license, registration and proof of insurance as well as the purpose for my visit.

Thankfully, there is no similar vetting process for entry into God's family.  I need no special credentials, certain bloodline that connects me to Jesus, or special abilities in order to enter the kingdom of God.  All that is needed is for me to commit my life to Jesus who already paid the price for my entrance.

This makes me a child of the promise, referring to the pledge God made to Abraham that, "all peoples on earth would be blessed through you." (Genesis 12:3b) When I accept the free gift of salvation that comes through faith in Christ, I enter into a relationship with God that is marked by certain characteristics.

Called by God

There was a comedy-drama released in 1988 called The Truman Show that chronicled the crisis that occurred when Truman Burbank discovered that his entire life had unknowingly been the subject of a reality show.  Every situation in which Truman encountered is contrived, carefully planned by producers to evoke a desired reaction for the entertainment of millions of viewers.  None of the relationships, situations or circumstances found in Truman's life were genuine, but rather a means to attract more attention for creators of his show.  No matter how hard this man tried, he would never be able to achieve anything outside of the will of the producers.

God is not like the producers of this interesting movie, controlling every move I make and engineering situations in order to achieve in me a desired result.  He is, however, perfectly sovereign.  Nothing can happen unless He allows it to occur.

Unlike the film, however, God is not out to exploit my life for His own benefit.  He has my best interest at heart and knows what I need to grow in faith.  (Romans 8:28,Malachi 3:3)  If a certain endeavor is not God's will, it will not succeed and I will find my efforts to be in vain. (Malachi 1:4)

I am called by God, not according to my own merit so I can rest in His sovereign plan for my life.

Objects of Mercy

He was born to showcase the might and power of God.  The ruler of Egypt stubbornly refused to let the people of God go, instead enduring many plagues and bringing about much suffering for the Egyptian populace.  God hardened the heart of Pharaoh in order to bring glory to Himself.  (Exodus 9:12,16)

Each of us are either made to be objects of God's wrath or His mercy. (Romans 9:20-24)  God decided my purpose before I took my first breath.   As one who is called to live for Him, I know my relationship with the God who saved me is based on His mercy, not on my merit.  I received the gift of salvation out of His love for me, consequently, I can live with the assurance that neither can I lose His love because of my own lack of goodness.

Now, I can confidently approach the ministry to which God has placed upon my heart, knowing that my efforts will be accepted as an act of obedience whether or not I see any signs of what I call "success."

I can also embrace the people God has positioned around me, loving them as I know God loves me; with abandon.

Furthermore, because of this assurance of acceptance by God based on His mercy, the pressure I used to place on myself to perform well has disappeared, leaving behind a compassionate point-of-view.

I am an object of God's mercy, created to bring glory to Himself through my eternally secure relationship with Him.

Prepared for Glory

I marveled at the tree every day on my way to school.  A neighboring barnyard featured a curious sight that never ceased to initiate questions in my young mind.  How did two trees come to grow as one?  Is that really one tree, or two trees growing together?  Which one came first? Did the owners mean to grow two trees in one?

Just as that unique tree appeared to have grafted one variety of species into another, making the secondary type grow its own branch from out of the original tree, I have been adopted into God's family.  Through faith in Jesus Christ, I receive the full rights of a family member, even though I have a foreign bloodline.  I bear no familial relation to the people of Israel yet I am a part of the promise.

As an adopted child of God, I was created to glorify God.  (1 Peter 2:9-12, Romans 8:30)  From the beginning, He had many good things in mind for me to do; people to love, ministries to carry out, tasks to accomplish.  (Ephesians 2:10)

Sometimes, though, the most powerful things I do for God's glory seem like the smallest things: Willingly and joyfully cleaning up behind my child.  Driving in traffic with a positive attitude as I use the extra time to talk to God.  Accepting delays and difficulties as opportunities to trust the mystery of God's plan.

I have been prepared for God's glory since He first gave me life.

I did not choose to follow God through faith in Jesus Christ on my own accord.  Instead, I was called by God who gave me the ability to see my need for Jesus so that He could get glory through my life, created as an object of His mercy, and prepared to give glory to God.  In this way, I am a child of the promise.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can live as a legitimate child of God.

When do I live for my own glory instead of God's?

How do I fail to embrace the purposes God has prepared for me?

Spirit of Life

"Therefore,

there is now no condemnation for those

who are in Christ Jesus,

who do not live according to the sinful nature

but according to the Spirit,

because through Christ Jesus

the law of the Spirit of life

set me free from the law of sin and death.

. . .Who is he that condemns?

Christ Jesus, who died--more than that,

who was raised to life--

is at the right hand of God

and is also interceding for us.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Shall trouble or hardship or persecution

or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

. . .No, in all these things we are more than conquerors

through him who loved us."

Romans 8:1-2, 34-35, 37

I've heard stories of people who thought they could have it all;  There is the con man who lures a woman into falling in love with him so he can take advantage of her vulnerable state and bilk her of all her assets.  Or there are the businessmen who entice politicians to pass laws that would benefit their company.  Then there are the women who claim to stand for a woman's right to make her own health care decisions but deny that same privilege to their unborn child.  In every case, these people tried to act one way but live another.  Their hypocrisy betrayed their true master: Self.

When I commit my life to Jesus, I reap an everlasting benefit in freedom from death and hope for an eternal home with Him.  I am also promised a powerful bond with the love of Christ that nothing can break.  Is there anything that is expected of me?  If I truly experience His love can I go on living as if nothing has happened, continuing in my old ways?

If I truly have invited Jesus into my life to act as my Lord and Savior, then I will experience the Spirit of a whole new life.

Sinful

The caterpillar crawled along the leaf, munching it's crunchy goodness to feed his belly and nourish his fast-growing body.  He is limited in his mobility by his long, accordion-like body and multiple tiny legs, keeping him on the one plant where his mother first laid his egg.  He can never travel and see the world around him until he emerges from the pupa, or chrysalis as an entirely new creature.  The miraculous metamorphosis that takes place transforms him from a plump, awkward larva to a graceful, attractive butterfly.  Now he can live as the creature God intended for him to become.

In the same way, I am transformed into a new creature when I commit to Jesus as my Lord.  As the Amplified Bible interprets 2 Corinthians 5:17, "The old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed away."

My past sins, former way of thinking, and previous state as an enemy of God are all part of the old me. (Isaiah 1:18, Romans 12:2, Colossians 1:21)  If I choose to continue living my way, however, as if nothing has changed, it is as if I am not even saved.  I am still acting as one who is sinful and hostile to God. (Ephesians 4:22)

When I have a chance to react in love when treated poorly, then, I go back to my old ways and lash out in anger and self-righteousness.  I think, How dare you treat me that way!  The opportunity to show the compassion and mercy of God is lost.

When God sends a hurting soul who needs guidance and comfort, I retreat to my old position of sticking to my schedule and placing my tasks before my calling.  The chance I had to administer   reassurance through the truth found in God's Word was lost.

When things look hopeless and my circumstances seem impossible, I do as I always have and fret about what could happen, turning my body into a mass of pain and suffering.  The opening God had provided for me to trust Him passed right on by.

I must realize that as a believer in Christ Jesus, I must purposefully turn away from my old way of thinking, speaking and acting.  These are parts of my old self.  If I insist on living the way I used to live, it is important for me to understand that I will reap what I sow.  (Galatians 6:7)  God will not protect me from the consequences of my actions because He shows no favoritism. (Romans 2:9-11)  I am held accountable for how I choose to live. (2 Corinthians 5:10)

To live as if I've received the new life promised to me, I must put off the old, sinful ways.

Control

My husband received a remote-controlled helicopter from his brother last year for his birthday.  After charging the battery, we took it outside to take it for a spin.  It was pretty fun trying to raise it up in the air and make it hover without crashing into something (or someone).  The frustrating part, however, was that only one person could control the craft at a time.  

Just as this small model could only have one pilot at a time, so my life can only submit to one lord.  If I insist on acting as that leader, then God cannot.  The thing about God is that He is not a bully.  He does not force His way into my life, demanding His rightful place.  Instead, He is a gentleman, waiting for me to invite Him.  

When I see trouble coming down the pike and take immediate action in order to avoid disaster, I've left God out in the cold, denying Him the lordship I claim to have given Him.

When I go after what I want without a thought to God's sovereign plan, I've given control to myself instead of the Master Planner.

When I seek the advice of others when relationships turn sour but fail to acknowledge God, I deny the only One who can mend a broken heart and heal the wounds that drive people apart.

Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters.  Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other." (Matthew 6:24a)  If I claim to follow Jesus, I must let Him lead or I betray the identity of my true master: Me!

To live as if I've received the new life promised to me, I must give God control of all things.

Sonship

My sister and her husband are foster parents.  Every time they take in a child, whether it be for the short term or the long haul, they consider the youngster to be their own son or daughter.  Bloodline or length of time spent in their family matters not.  Instead, the love of God compels them to include any child that is taken in as a part of the family.

Similarly, God's love offers a place for me in His family.  There are no requirements of time served, righteousness obtained or abilities mastered.  On the contrary, I am invited because I trust in Jesus as my Savior.  The blood Jesus shed on the cross is the only prerequisite for entrance into this kinship.

God's Spirit gives me the assurance of my place in His family, helping me to feel comfortable and at ease in this new position.  (Romans 8:16)  As I become accustomed to the ways of my Father, I grow in my desire to obey Him out of the love that grows in my heart.  When I do as He instructs, I find that my life is blessed in many ways.  Even though hard times come, my Father is always there for me, protecting me, guiding me and strengthening me.

Troubles that used to consume me, sending me into a frenzy of anxiety, now serve as opportunities to see the power of my Father.

Activities that used to bring much pleasure now are seen as an affront to the One whom I serve as I find other ways to find enjoyment.

Difficult circumstances come as I grow in my faith, but I learn that my Father sends them as a tool to grow my faith.

To live as if I've received the new life promised to me, I must live as a child of God.

When Jesus becomes my Lord and Savior that is not the end, but only the beginning.  From there I cannot continue to live in my old ways and retain control of my life and still call myself a follower of Christ.  Instead, I only move forward in the Spirit of life when I live as one who is adopted into the family of my heavenly Father.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will put off the old way of living and take on my new position in God's family.

When do I continue in old patterns without even trying to turn away from them?

How am I defiantly insisting on controlling my own destiny?