Bible Reading: Numbers 27-28; Mark 3:18-35
“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” – Psalm 23:5
The Father through the sacrifice of Jesus has brought you to the table of His goodness but many are sitting on that table and starving because they don’t feel ‘worthy’ or deserving. This is why they feel guilty for God’s abundance and goodness in their lives. What they do not realize is that God does not bless us for who we are or what we do, rather He blesses us because of who He is. We are brought to the table based on Jesus’ righteousness and our right response should be, ‘Thank You, Father, for Your goodness!’
The feeling of unworthiness and condemnation is the reason many suffer in God’s goodness. They are always looking at their ‘lame’ feet like Mephibosheth.
The Bible tells us that the house of Saul was always at war with the house of David but David had a ‘blood covenant’ with Jonathan (1 Samuel 18:1-4). After Saul died in battle with his son – Jonathan and the house of Saul heard that David had become king, the fear of vengeance and retribution gripped their hearts. As the nanny tried to run away with Jonathan’s son – Mephibosheth, she fell down and the boy became crippled “And Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.” – 2 Samuel 4:4. In fear, they took him to a place called Lo-debar which means a place without pasture (2 Samuel 9:4-5). The boy lived there and grew up to be a man who believed that David was after his life. He lived in that lie all his life like many have believed and lived in the lie that God is angry with them and wants nothing to do with them.
As an established king, David’s heart was yearning to show kindness to just ‘anybody’ in the house of Saul. 2 Samuel 9:1 says, “And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” This is the same way God wants to show you kindness for Jesus’ sake like David showed Mephibosheth kindness for Jonathan’s sake.
The good graces of David brought Mephibosheth to the table of royalty but the insecurities and complexes borne out of the lies told him coupled with his deformities made him feel unworthy of anything good. 2 Samuel 9:8 says, “And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?” Too many Christians feel like this. They look at their lives, their past, their flaws and because of the lies they have been told all their lives, they feel undeserving of anything good from God.
You must never forget that Jesus’ righteousness – not yours, is the reason for the Father’s goodness in your life and it will surprise you to know that the Father isn’t waiting for you to ‘change’ to bless you because He has blessed you and He is using His goodness to change you.
Prayer: Father, I thank You for Your love, mercy and kindness towards me because of Jesus’ righteousness.
Pst Alfred Samuel