Friday, May 27, 2005

 

Dear Family;

 

There is a story in 2 Samuel 9 which should brighten the hearts of all who read it because it shows us a beautiful vision of the relationship Christians are invited to have with God and His son Jesus Christ.

 

Saul and his son Jonathan are dead and David has claimed the throne. Throughout the later years of Saul's reign he continually sought to kill David even though David had remained loyal to him and referred to him as the Lord's anointed. David remained loyal even after the death of Saul and his sons. David gave them royal funerals and burials.  David said is there not yet someone else left in this family that I may show more mercy and compassion to on Jonathan's behalf.

 2 Samuel 9:

 

1). Now David said, "Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?"

2). And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. So when they had called him to David, the king said to him, "Are you Ziba?" And he said, "At your service!"

3). Then the king said, "Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God?" And Ziba said to the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in his feet."

4). So the king said to him, "Where is he?" And Ziba said to the king, "Indeed he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar."

5). Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.

6). Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, "Mephibosheth?" And he answered, "Here is your servant!"

7). So David said to him, "Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually."

8). Then he bowed himself, and said, "What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?"

9). And the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, "I have given to your master's son all that belonged to Saul and to all his house.

10). "You therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the harvest, that your master's son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master's son shall eat bread at my table always." Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

11). Then Ziba said to the king, "According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do." "As for Mephibosheth," said the king, "he shall eat at my table like one of the king's sons."

12). Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micha. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth.

13). So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king's table. And he was lame in both his feet. (NKJ)

 

One of Saul's servants said there is a son of Jonathan who is living in exile. So David invited Jonathan's son "Mephibosheth" in and showed him mercy. David gave him all that had been his fathers and grandfathers. He then appointed Ziba to work the land and maintain it for Mephibosheth.  Mephibosheth was then given a place at the King's table where he ate continually.

 

This is a picture of how God shows mercy and kindness to Christians on behalf of His Son and then invites Christians to come and feast at His table continually.  God wants that continual intimate communion with His creatures. He has made it easy for His creatures to be in His company. He has done everything necessary for us to make it possible. All we have to do is accept it by faith.

 

To those who do not know this God and His Son Jesus Christ, you are constantly sought by Him to let Him begin that type of relationship with you.

 

Rev 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (NKJ)

 

It is an amazing thing that this God and creator of the universe would seek me out and ask me if He might come into my heart and life. He asked me to permit Him to make my heart His Temple so He can rule His universe from there.  When I say yes, He gives me the keys to His entire Kingdom and permits me to live in His Temple and feast at His table. What a marvelous thing.

 

Luke 12:37 "Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. (NKJ)

 

Not only does He give me a place of royalty, He goes even further. He will come, and serve me, and treat me as if I am the master and He the servant. There is no other God like Him in the entire universe. To think that this God, creator of the universe, would serve me and give to me all His power to carry out His wishes here on earth. Total  unlimited power and resources for those who are willing to let Him rule in their lives.

 

It is easy to say I will give my heart to Him but the difficulty comes in surrender and rest. God wants me to give control of my very being to Him, not in lip service but in every thought and imagination of my being. God wants to take me on an eternal ride in the stretch limousine of life. I cannot enjoy the luxury of being the chauffeured from the drivers seat. I must surrender the drivers seat and rest in the back and leave the driving to Him.  

 

God want you and me to come to the place in our relationship with Him where all that we do is done as if we are His instrument of service to the world. God wants all that we do for Him and mankind to flow normally and naturally from Him through us to the world. We are not in a boarding relationship, I'll do this so you will do that. If you seek me with all your heart, I will give you the desire of your heart. Think of it this way, when we come to the point in our relationship to give our total self to Him without any expectation of reward or favor, He then uses us and gives us the desire of our heart.  We do not think when we breath it just happens and the result is everything we call life.   

 

Shouldn't we choose Him as our God and Savior? Shouldn't we say to Him, "This is your house" come and dwell?  Come cleanse, sanctify and purify this heart, body and mind, make it you house, your temple!

 

Love

Dad