Saturday, February 8, 2020

Faithful Beyond Measure

Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 29:8, So David said to Achish, “But what have I done? And to this day what have you found in your servant as long as I have been with you, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”
David is really in a bad place spiritually. Although being rejected, he insists on wanting to fight against Israel alongside the Philistines. I cannot think of anyone, including self, who enjoys being rejected. However, rejection can also be a blessing and is one way that God shows His faithfulness beyond measure. The rejection that David experienced is the same rejection God was using to keep David from doing something he would later regret. Quite often, when we choose to walk a path that leads to sin, God places roadblocks and allows circumstances to hinder our journey in order to give us an opportunity to turn back. He is faithful to give us a way to avoid sinning against Him. 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” Sadly, even when God provides us a way out, we insist on trying to find a way around it. God was giving David a way of escape from fighting against his own people. David was a faithful servant to whomever he chose to serve. We saw that when he served Saul. Yet, here, because of all that he had experienced, and because of the emotional and spiritual turmoil he endured for so long, his allegiance is a bit skewed. His feelings appeared to be hurt because the Philistines did not trust him. It truly is a sad place for a Christian to be when we think more of how the world thinks about us, rather than how God thinks of us. Yet, in all of this, the one thing that shines through is God’s faithfulness. God’s faithfulness toward us is far greater than any one of us deserve. In those moments when we deserve that God abandon us, He shows Himself faithful. When we deserve His wrath, He shows His love. In Christ, we have been given far more then we deserve. God’s promise to never leave us nor forsake us in Hebrews 13:5 is a promise that He will be faithful beyond all measure. It is a promise that is unconditional. We may cause there to be a fracture in our fellowship with Him when we sin, but it does not change the fact that He is with us always. Even though David was in such a sad state, God remained with him and used the rejection of the Philistines to keep David from sinning against Israel and the Lord. 2 Timothy 2:13 tells us, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3 promises, “But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.” I could easily go on to prove, by His Word, that the Lord is faithful. However, for those of us who know Him and have walked with Him, we already know this to be true from personal experience. David, instead of seeing this as an opportunity to get back to where he belongs, chose to go back to the land of the Philistines (v.11). Let us praise God today for His never-ending love. His love and faithfulness go beyond measure and beyond what any of us deserve. When we experience rejection from the world, let us not see it as something to be mourned over. Instead, let us praise the Lord that we are rejected for His sake; and rather than trying to find a way to be accepted and stay in the world, let us see it as an opportunity to get right with God and draw closer to Him.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

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