Page 34 - Livin Light Issue 81

Monday July 10 - The kindness of the king
The king asked, “Is there no-one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?” 2 Samuel 9:3
Kindness is a wonderful virtue, an essential part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). I am sure you can readily recall acts of kindness that have meant far more than the gestures themselves. Often kindness is unmerited, coming out of the blue and from surprising sources. It can be found in just a smile, a kind word or gesture which declares you are not invisible; yes, someone cares.
Mephibosheth was just five years old when his father and grandfather were killed. Fearing for the boy’s life, his nurse picked him up, but as she fled she fell, leaving Mephibosheth lame (2 Samuel 4:4). He was vulnerable, unable to cope and discredited through birth. In fact his name, Mephibosheth, means ‘shameful thing’. He did not have a lot going for him – that is until King David chose to show him mercy and kindness.
The initiative came entirely from the king. David had often experienced God’s gracious kindness; in Psalm 63:3 he wrote, ‘Because your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise you.’ Let’s take a leaf out of David’s book and determine to live a life of kindness, starting right now. Kindness is the natural outworking of God’s love (1 Corinthians 13:4) most often expressed in action. It is powerful evidence of God’s Spirit at work in our lives.
Heavenly Father, please purify my heart so that your kindness flows through me to others, starting with the next person I meet. Amen.
Tuesday July 11 - The call of the king
So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel. 2 Samuel 9:5
‘I was lost, but Jesus found me, found the sheep that went astray, threw his loving arms around me, drew me back into his way.’ What joy, to be found by Jesus! Here in 2 Samuel 9 we are given a picture of salvation, almost 1100 years before Jesus’ birth. David, having kept his promise and acted in kindness, now sends his servant to find Mephibosheth with an invitation to meet him.
David’s servant, Ziba, is like the Holy Spirit sent to seek us and bring us to Jesus. Here, hidden in the story of David, is a picture of the most amazing event in all history. For God so loved Mephibosheth that he led David to instruct Ziba to go to Lo Debar. This is the message of John 3:16 that brings salvation to the lost sinner.
Lo Debar literally means ‘no pasture’ – a barren place. It has also been translated ‘no communication’. Either way, Mephibosheth was unable to walk, lost in a desert place – yet he was loved by David. Such was David’s love that Mephibosheth was carried all the way to Jerusalem to meet the king.
No matter who you are, your Christian journey started with the call of the King. Jesus found you before you found him! You didn’t somehow stumble into faith; you were called and that call still stands. ‘God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable’ (Romans 11:29). Hallelujah!
Father, today I want to say “Yes” to the call you place upon my life. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
32
PRAYER FOR TODAY