ICS Daily Devotions
How Much Does He Love You?
2 Samuel 9:3b-4,8. 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.”…….. 8.Then he bowed himself, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?”
Mephibosheth has been living in fear of the day when King David will send his mighty man to search out for him and kill him. He has been living in hiding for a long time probably in the refugee camp. He saw himself as a dog in King David’s sight. He felt that he was completely worthless and helpless. The fact that Mephibosheth was lame in both feet further adds to the picture of helplessness. He was both a helpless handicapped and descendent of a defeated dynasty!
However, Mephibosheth lived in needless fear, because David had a covenant with Jonathan which is passed on to descendants.
Ephesians 2:12 (NKJV) That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
Luke 19:9-10 (NKJV) And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
God was the initiator of the restoration of relationship with mankind despite of our sinful state in Adam. Just like a reflection of God, David initiated the expression of God’s kindness and the obligation of the covenant. Jesus was also fulfilling the Abrahamic covenant when He came to seek and save those who were lost. God was pursuing peace and restoration with mankind despite of our weaknesses, ungodliness, and spiritual bankruptcy. We were wretched sinners in His eyes. King David likewise was pursuing restoration with his covenant partner’s family despite the enmity shown to him by King Saul. Both are the expression of God’s grace or unmerited favor and mercy.
Mephibosheth lived in fear and condemnation. It can be challenging at times when we feel so distant, condemned and unworthy to receive God’s unmerited favor. It seems too good to be true. We have been so used to feeling condemned and never will be good enough before a holy, righteous and just God. This is especially true when the law has been a mirror of our lives reminding us daily regarding how we do not measure to God’s standard of righteousness. We were helpless sinners waiting for God’s judgment but God had a plan to rescue us!
Romans 5:6 (NKJV) For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
There is a tendency for us to be self-righteous to attain God’s love and acceptance. There is no amount of earthly rituals, liturgies and formalities that will get us closer or more accepted by God. In fact, the law cannot make us righteous before God because of the weakness of the flesh and no man is able to be made perfect by the law. If righteousness can save us through the law, Jesus would truly have died in vain! There isn’t anything that we can do on this earth to make us more accepted by God. What Christ has already done for us through His death and redemption on the cross of Calvary was enough to defeat the evil one.
Believers who do not find their identity in Christ will always feel rejected by God, condemned and unworthy before God. If we do not hide ourselves in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and acknowledge who we are in Christ, pride will be at work to attempt self-righteousness. Humility is acknowledging our frailty that we are spiritually bankrupt and helpless in the ability to stand right before God.
Having Jesus dying on the cross to redeem us, do you think our Heavenly Father loves Jesus more than us?
John 17:20,23 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;…and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
This scripture answers the question above. Our Abba Father loves Jesus as much as He loves us! There is nothing in us that will make us worthy before God based on our own strength. There is absolutely nothing we have done or not done, spoken or not spoken to make God love us more or love us less. He loves us as we are and has called us to be His sons and daughters to reign with Him on earth.
Sermon series: Cell Group Campaign Session 3 – The Blood Covenant
