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Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5
I often wonder what it would have been like to see Jesus during the days He walked on earth as a human being. I imagine that I would most likely have been like many who lived with Him on a daily basis. My human eyes would have been blinded to who He really was. There are so many of the disciples that remind me of myself.
Even so, He must have been an incredible character to watch. Compassionate and understanding enough to kneel before children in order to meet them on their level even though He was the creator God of the universe! But that position of awesome authority and power meant nothing to Him.
To see Him in the crowd, with the throng pressing against Him, yet being so aware of each person that He noticed when the woman who was bleeding (emotionally as well as physically) touched Him. To realize that even today, in the midst of the crowd, He notices my pain, my agony, my incurable condition (sin).
In the midst of unthinkable agony, as parents struggled to find answers when their children were sick or had died, to be able to reach out and with a single touch not only heal the child but heal the wound in the heart and soul of the mom and dad. Even though He himself wasn’t a parent, He had the heart of one.
When the crowd misunderstood Him, and the religious fanatics tried to defame Him. He knew who He was, yet not once did He lash back in anger and hate towards individuals. He always responded with truth and honesty. He was so secure in knowing who He was that the verbal, physical and emotional attacks leveled against Him had no effect. He responded in love.
When His friends never seemed to ‘get it’; when they argued over who was greatest. Imagine that! Playing the ‘I’m better than you’ game in front of the God of the universe! Yet He led them with grace and compassion. When He needed their support the most, they left Him to die alone. Yet His first act after rising from the dead was to make them breakfast.
And still today, when I struggle to obey. When I fall to the temptation to have my own way, to worry about tomorrow, or selfishly ‘stand up for my rights’. He accepts me as I am flaws and all. He forgives. He understands. He encourages. He loves.
Paul writes to the Philippians and to us. He begs us to have that attitude, that mindset that set Jesus apart from the rest. An attitude of love, compassion, forgiveness and security. As Christ-followers we have an opportunity…an obligation as such, to show the world what Jesus was really about. He wasn’t about rules, regulations or religious dogmas. He was about relationship.
PRAYER: My dear Jesus. When I think of how you responded to daily life I’m in awe of your patience, love and compassion. Thank you for loving me the way you do. Empower me with your Holy Spirit so that I may live with the same attitude, the same mindset you did. Help me to live so that others will see Jesus in me. Amen.
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3
In this age of technology the most amazing computer of all is that oldest computer of all, the human mind. There is nothing so powerful, so fast and so able to store, retrieve and make use of information as our minds. A computer, amazing as it is, is only as capable as the mind of the operator!
Our minds tell us each morning who we are, how valuable we are, who God is and what He can do for us. Our minds control how we feel about ourselves, our relationships, our abilities and the chances for success in the midst of struggle. It’s often our minds and not our abilities or circumstances that determine our chances in the midst of turmoil.
The Bible tells us that a mind that steadfastly trusts in God is a mind that is at peace. The mind is considered the intellectual part of the human being. It’s the part of us that rationally evaluates the facts before us and makes an action decision based on the facts.
The heart on the other hand is the ‘emotional control’ center of the body. Acting on emotions without, or ignoring the facts (mind) leads us to actions and thought patterns that may be damaging to ourselves, our faith and God. Acting on emotion alone can lead us to despair, depression or even death.
Don’t allow your mind to control how you look at yourself or others. A mind that focuses on the facts of who God is and who you are in His sight is a mind that will be able to navigate even the toughest of times. Like a runner focused on the finish line, a steadfast mind is oblivious to distractions that may keep it from reaching the goal.
True peace can only come as a result of struggles. True peace is that inner quality that outside forces can not affect without our permission. A mind that steadfastly trusts God is a mind that will enable us to withstand anything that life can through at us. By growing in our relationship with Jesus Christ and learning more about Him through Bible Study and interaction with other Christ-followers, we can develop a mindset that will empower us to steadfastly trust in God and have the inner peace only He can give us.
PRAYER: Father God, I thank you today for the amazing mind that you have given me. A mind that can store so much more information than I can imagine and makes man-made technology pale in significance. I confess to you that often times my mind causes me to doubt You, to doubt my abilities and to question the motives of those around me. I worry, I get angry, and I retaliate because I question your ability to handle the issues in my life. I ask today, that you would give me a mind that is focused on your power, your riches and your ability to see me through life. Help me to grow closer to you and to Jesus through the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Lamentations 3:21-22 (NLT)
Jeremiah walked the streets of Jerusalem in agony. He saw homeless children who had become orphans due to war, now dying in the streets of starvation. He saw the elderly looking lost, confused and yearning for the days when they lived in prosperity, but now lived in hopelessness.
In the midst of the national horror, he’d experienced huge personal loss as well. He was verbally and physically abused by those he tried to help. He was all alone and in despair he cried out to God, but it seemed that even God Himself had turned a deaf ear to his pleas. Everything that he considered sacred and secure had either been destroyed or taken from him. He was alone, brokenhearted and saw no hope.
As Jeremiah looked around and took stock of what he was seeing, he was reminded of one thing that had remained constant throughout his ordeal; his faith in a God that loved him and had shown himself faithful in years past. It was the hope that he had in God that helped Jeremiah see that even in the direst of situations God still was in control.
Later, in chapter three he writes: “For no one is abandoned by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion because of the greatness of his unfailing love. For he does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow.” (Vss. 31-33)
Hundreds of years later Jesus would teach us the same truth in the story of the Prodigal Son. As the young man sat hopelessly in a pile of pig slop with no money, no hope and no friends, he remembered his father. He remembered home. Pulling himself out of the slop he returned to the one place he knew there would be acceptance, love and compassion. The arms of his father.
So it is with us today.
No matter what you have done in your past to separate you from God, you can always come home.
No matter how much debt you have and how hopeless your financial state, you can always come home.
No matter what consequences of poor choices you carry with you, you can always come home.
No matter what relational turmoil you are in, even if it is a result of your actions, you can always come home.
No matter what abuse you have suffered emotionally, physically or spiritually, you can always come home.
No matter how long you have rejected His call in the past, you can always come home.
Your Heavenly Father longs to have a passionate love relationship with you. He is not concerned about your past. He is not worried about your future. He can help you with present struggles. When you see no light in the darkness; no hope in the midst of despair; no comfort in the midst of your pain. Jesus urges you to come home and rest in His loving arms.
PRAYER: Father God. I look at myself and the mess I’ve made of things and am embarrassed to have to come to you time and again for forgiveness. I am under attack by those who constantly attack me verbally, emotionally and physically and struggle to find ways to carry on. I contemplate the future and fear for myself, my children and my grandchildren. I ask today that you would empower me to rest in your arms of everlasting arms. I can’t do this without you. Amen.
One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 Samuel 9:1 (NLT)
The story of David and Mephibosheth is a beautiful picture of God’s grace to us. There was nothing the Mephibosheth did to draw David to himself. David probably didn’t even know Jonathan had a son, which is why he asked if anyone from Saul’s household was still alive. Had he known Jonathan had children he would have asked about Jonathan’s family.
There was nothing noble about his gesture to a ‘cripple’ either. Today we applaud people who reach out to those who are handicapped but in David’s day those people were often ignored completely or left to beg on the side of the road. David reached out to a helpless person just as God in His grace has reached out to us.
David’s action was based on a covenant he made with Jonathan. Mephibosheth had nothing to do with the transaction. In the same way, our relationship with God is based solely on what Jesus did on the cross. We are weak, helpless, stubborn people who live in sin. Yet Jesus reached out to us on the cross based on the covenant God made with Abraham and we can approach God because of Jesus. We did nothing to deserve a relationship with God and we can do nothing to maintain it.
It was by grace that Mephibosheth was given the highest place in David’s kingdom. In the same way, those of us who are Christ-followers are given the highest place of honor in God’s kingdom. We don’t deserve the many blessings we receive from Him. Yet, in spite of our unworthiness, He has elevated us to the position of sonship.
Mephibosheth saw himself as nothing more than a cripple, a dead dog, even though he was a member of royalty. His self-image kept him in a mindset of worthlessness even though he continued to live in comfort. Even though he had given up on life, God reached out to him by sending David to him and bless him far beyond what he could have imagined.
God wants to do the same for you. Even though you may have made many poor decisions or ignored God all together He seeks you to have a meaningful relationship with you. Don’t allow your weaknesses to keep you from living a life of power and love. Never give up. Mephibosheth lived for years thinking that what he had was the best that could be. God showed him differently and he ended up living in a palace and treated like a king.
PRAYER: Father God, I thank you for the grace you have given to me. Grace I don’t deserve. Grace I didn’t seek out. I acknowledge to you that the blessings I have received have nothing to do with who I am or what I have done. Everything I am; everything I have is a result of your grace. Help me to leave the negative thoughts of who I am behind. Empower me to see me as you see me, a son/daughter worthy of all your riches. In Jesus name, Amen.
Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?” 2 Samuel 9:8
For years David ran from King Saul, fearing for his life and waiting for God to make good on His promise to place David on the throne as Israel’s king. Finally, God’s promise came true and David was made King. Scripture gives accounts of David’s great victories over all of Israel’s enemies until there was peace throughout the land.
One day David sat with his advisors. Life was good. God was good. He no doubt was looking back over the years and thinking of how he’d finally gotten to where he was. Then a thought came to David. He missed his very best friend in the world, Jonathan, the son of Saul. Jonathan had been the bright spot in David’s years of running. He’d protected David, advised David and become his most trusted friend. But Jonathan had been killed in battle alongside his father, Saul.
David asked if there was anyone left from the house of Saul that he could show kindness to for the sake of his dear friend Jonathan. This wasn’t an odd question. Traditionally, when someone became King, the previous king’s family was wiped out to prevent any dissention. David was told of a son of Jonathan’s named Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth had been tragically hurt when Saul’s family fled after Saul’s death. As a result of his injuries, he was crippled for life. He lived for years in hiding from David in an obscure town.
You can imagine the fear that came over Mephibosheth when he saw David’s entourage coming down the road! All his hiding was for naught. Most likely, death was imminent. Hoping for mercy, he bowed down before David, referring to himself as a dead dog. He was, in his eyes, just a worthless cripple and of no value to anyone.
But David wasn’t there for revenge. He was there to show grace. He took Mephibosheth to the palace where he lived in luxury for the rest of his life!
Mephibosheth wasn’t taken to the palace because of anything he had done. He didn’t live in luxury because he deserved anything. David certainly wasn’t obligated, but societies standards, to show any kindness at all. It was only because of David’s friendship and covenant with Jonathan that Mephibosheth was shown any kindness at all.
There are times in each of our lives when we may feel like Mephibosheth. We see how we look in the mirror and see fat and ugly. We reflect on our past and see failure as a result of one poor decision after another. We doubt we are of any use of any value to anyone. But God sees us differently.
Because of Jesus we are welcomed into God’s family. We have the right, because of His forgiveness to live as kings. It doesn’t matter what physical or emotional deformities we have. Our past is of no concern to Him because He washed all those failures away at the cross.
Don’t look at yourself as a dead dog; as one that is of no value or worth to anyone. Because of Jesus you are a child of the King.
PRAYER: Father God, I thank you for the story of Mephibosheth and for the reminder that in your eyes I am not a failure but a beloved son. There are so many times when I find myself wishing I was better at this thing or that; so many times when my past mistakes come back to haunt me. Empower me by your Spirit to see myself the way you do and to live with the assurance of your love and acceptance even when others see me as a failure. Amen.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 