Unworthy At the Kings Table

He had no business eating at the king’s table. His family background, physical infirmities, and utter helplessness should have barred him from such an honored place. But there he sat, day after day, like one of the king’s own sons.

Mephibosheth had experienced more than his share of physical and emotional pain. Second Samuel 4:4 briefly recounts the tragic accident that left him unable to walk on the very day he learned of the battle deaths of his father, Jonathan, and his grandfather, King Saul.

Now, years later, David ruled as king over all Israel. Second Samuel 9 tells us Mephibosheth was living an obscure life a safe distance from Jerusalem. The usual custom in the ancient Near East was for new kings to wipe out the entire family of the previous king to prevent any possible political comeback. It is likely that Mephibosheth was also aware of his grandfather’s attempts to kill David years before.

So when messengers from King David arrived at his house to escort him to the king, Mephibosheth probably expected the worst. What he found when he arrived, however, was a king who understood grace; a king anxious to keep a promise he had made to Jonathan, Mephibosheth’s father, many years before.

When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor. David said, “Mephibosheth!” “At your service,” he replied. “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.” Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?” (2 Samuel 9:6-8).

You and I share a lot in common with Mephibosheth. We are unworthy servants who do not deserve any special favors from God. We and members of our family have sometimes treated him like an enemy. Crippled by the sin in our life, we are spiritually like dead dogs.

Yet God’s invitation remains open for a seat at his table. Each week we are invited to rejoice with our King at his table of remembrance. Because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God takes us from the gutter of sin and seats us at his royal table, with a promise of an even greater banquet someday in Heaven (Revelation 19:9).

So today as we sit at this table like one of the King’s sons or daughters, let’s celebrate the grace and kindness that allows us to be here. Let’s bow before the King and humbly respond to him as Mephibosheth did to David, “Your servant.”

Proclaiming to whom?

Today I want to read out of the book of Revelation.  I'm not going to be talking about end-times stuff,
I'm going to be talking about current-times stuff.  I'm going to read the words of Jesus he gave to the apostle John while he was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Revelation 3:14-20 And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.  I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot.  Would that you were either cold or hot!  So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.  For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.  Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.  Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears  my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

A little bit of history about the church at Laodicea was it was once a thriving, influential church!  But what happened?  This church sat back on it's laurels and forgot their purpose.  They believed they arrived at the pinnacle of doing church only to receive a rather stern rebuke directly from Jesus, the one whom the church was supposed to be all about.

During our coaching time with HGC we have already been given massive insight into our church through reading and studying.  One of the books we're going through as staff and leadership is Who Stole My Church by Gordon Macdonald.  This book is awesome for any church going through transition and I highly recommend this book to members of our congregation to read.  Here is an excerpt from the book.  This is a member of the church who was against change coming to the realization that the church doesn't belong to him: "We have our money and our sweat equity in it, but it's not ours.  Not ours--it belongs to Jesus.  Remember?  He died for it and all other congregations like it.  If we try to exert ownership and freeze the church into conditions that are comfortable for us, we're going to become hopelessly toxic and lose everything we tried to make happen"

Now what does this have to do with communion?  A LOT!  1st Corinthians 11:26 reads "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes" 

So what are we proclaiming?  Our programs?  Our carpet color?  Our worship style?  Our lighting preferences?  A dress code?  NO!  we're proclaiming the death of Jesus Christ and the hope it brings!  The we need to think about who we're proclaiming it to?  Just ourselves?  Each other?  A building full of people who already know about Jesus?  Yes and no!  We need to proclaim and celebrate the good news together but if that's our only reason for doing it we're missing the other half of the equation.  We are also to proclaim to the lost the good new of Jesus Christ!  I hope our churches are full of people who need to hear the good news  when we take communion each week.  To learn about the body that was broken represented by the bread and the blood which was spilled represented by the juice all pointing to the one hope the world has-Jesus Christ.

Luke 19:10 says Jesus came to seek and save the lost.  He didn't come for a church building, and organ, or an electric guitar.  He came for the lost!  The western church has spend too much time proclaim to ourselves how good Jesus is and how good we are while outside the lost don't even hear a whisper of the good news.

Take some time this week to think of one person who needs to hear the gospel proclaimed.  Invited them to come.  Make a resolution to share this proclamation with those who need the hope of Jesus Christ.

Tired Of This Album

Music has always been a huge part of my life.  I remember as a kid my dad played 8-tracks and records of all kinds of music in the house.  The radio was always on in the mornings while we were getting ready to go to work and school.  I grew to like music probably more than my dad does and grew to recognize my God-given talents because of it.

One of my favorite things to do was to explore new music and learn about new genres.  When I was a kid in the 80's I was really into Michael Jackson and 80's rock.  In middle school I was a weird kid because I liked Jazz music.  Then there was this really dark period of my life where I fell in love with country music for about a year.  I came through that struggle with God's help.  After that I went the opposite extreme and all through high school I listened almost exclusively to hardcore rap.  I even dressed like the guys I saw in the music videos.  Can you imagine me like that?  I college I really got into blues and back into jazz.  Not most of my time is focused on modern christian music that spans all kinds of genres.

I'm sure a lot of you reading this have gone through changes in musical interest over the years.  You get a brand new album and listen to it until you're just sick of it then  you move on to the next.  We wend to lost interest in music pretty quickly.  Just look at how the top 10 on the billboard changes.

If I were God I think dealing with people who have the same struggles dan in and day out would get old to me.  But I'm thankful I'm not God and God isn't like that.

Psalm 86:15 says "But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.  

I'm so thankful God doesn't treat us like an album He's tired of.  I'm so thankful He has grace when we come to Him over and over again with the same struggles and failures.  We sound like a broken record or a one track album but God is always there listening and being the Good Father that He is. What's also so awesome is He sits and listens to us exactly the way we are and if we're followers of Christ God sees the tune of Jesus.  Not only does He listen but he proved how much He loves us by Jesus dying on the cross.  His death paid the price for our sins.  God loves to listen to the album of your life but He doesn't want you to have the same tune your entire life, He loves you so much he wants to change your tune too.

The Facebook Facade

I took an inventory of my social media accounts accounts a few weeks ago.  I tallied Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat (never use it), a blog I regularly write in, and 2 blogs I haven't touched in years.  It also got me thinking about, what I'm going to call, the Facebook facade.  

Most everyone I know has a Facebook.  I also think that one of the main purposes behind people having a Facebook is for them to look and feel awesome.  Sure, it's for connecting with people and sharing memories with others like we have never been able to before but let's face it.  You want people you went to high-school with to think your life is perfect and you have life all figured out.  I'm guilty of it and so are you...don't lie.  We want people to see the best of us at all times.

We don't, however, like for people to see the worst in us, the deep and dark places of our heart.  What would happen if Facebook changed it's terms and conditions to where you had to post every nitty-gritty and flawed detail of your life along with the good stuff.  We would all close our accounts and never return to social media again.  Why?  Because we're afraid of rejection.  We believe if people intimately know us, the real us, they would never want to speak with us again.  So we put up this facade on our Facebook and in public so people see the us we want them to see.

Romans 5:8-11English Standard Version (ESV)

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

When Jesus died on the cross for our sins He knew us intimately.  Jesus, the eternal, perfect God intimately knows the deepest darkest corners of your heart that you have never shown to another person.  He knows all your sin, your embarrassments, all your shame, and all your secrets.  Yet, He still died for us.  He still accepted and cared for us enough that our God willingly laid down His life so we could be reconciled to Him.

When we accept Jesus, believe in who He said He was, and make Him Lord of our life He forgives every deep dark corner of our hearts.  He washes us clean and no longer sees a soul covered in wretchedness but God sees Jesus, He sees a perfect son or daughter.   Remember that as you go about your week.  God knows you intimately, scary intimately, but still in His great grace He loves you more that you can imagine.  Remember that this week and walk in confidence that the Creator of the universe knows and loves you.

We Care Because We're Adopted

Tyce has been doing something really cute over the past few weeks.  When he feels like he needs security he comes up to me, reaches up, and says "hold you" in the sweetest voice possible.  I then pick him up and he feels secure and safe.  He had his needs met with security or affection...or maybe even some mischief.  He does this because he knows I'm his dad and when he has a need I'll do whatever I can to meet it.  It's the same with God.

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

What do you think of when you hear the word Father?  For some of you it may mean warm memories, laughter, wisdom, and support.  For some of you the word father may bring up feelings of hurt, abandonment, or abuse.  Some of you may be resistant to connection with God as father.  Even the best example of a father here on Earth can't compare to our Heavenly father.  God is perfect in every way and He is the perfect Father.


In Galations 4 we read that we're adopted.  If you are a follower of Jesus Christ you are a child of God.  Once you were an orphan.  Once you were separated from your Heavenly Father but now you are one of His children!  You now have an eternal family. Because of this, because you have been adopted and redeemed, you pass along your care for the orphan and make sure that Earthly orphans experience the love of God through you.

We were adopted because of what Jesus did for us on the cross.  When he died on the cross He reconciled us with God and by His grace gave us the ability to because adopted into the family of God.  Let's never forget that.  We care for orphans, we care for the fatherless, because were were once Fatherless and orphaned.  Praise God for that this week and be intentional of finding ways to live out James 1:27 which says religion that is pure is to care for the widow and the orphan.  How can you have pure religion this week?

Babies and Alarm Clocks

When our son, Tyce, was an infant my wife and I would take shifts being up with him.  One thing I didn't realize was how often an infant eats.  In my ignorance of a first time parent I knew that a newborn needed to eat about every 2 hours and I thought "Great! I'll sleep two hours at a time, wake up, and feed him again".  That's not how it worked out.  It took about 30 minutes to feed him, then came the burping, then the diaper change, and then finally we got to lay him back down.  20 minutes later he was crying again.

I'm telling you, this kid could wail when he needed something!  When Tyce got older we moved him into his own crib in his own room.  One morning I had to get up early for something but totally missed waking up in time because I slept through my alarm.  I was so used to how loud my son's cry was the noise of my alarm didn't have an effect on me!  

Hebrews 3:7-11:

7 So, as the Holy Spirit says:

“Today, if you hear his voice,

8     do not harden your hearts

as you did in the rebellion,

    during the time of testing in the wilderness,

9 where your ancestors tested and tried me,

    though for forty years they saw what I did.

10 That is why I was angry with that generation;

    I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray,

    and they have not known my ways.’

11 So I declared on oath in my anger,

    ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ”[b]

There is a lot of noise in our world.  There is a lot of noise trying to compete with God’s voice.  Many of us may be struggling with waking up and doing what God needs us to do because we have let all the noise drown Him out.  Maybe right now in this moment of reflection you’re having a hard time connected with the sacredness of this moment because all of the issues in your life are trying to get your attention

Take time and quiet your mind, heart, and soul.  Make this moment for what it is, connection with the creator of the universe

Radio Football Expectations

This past week we were down in Alabama and had to drive back on Saturday during the Alabama
football game.  Reflecting back I've never had to listen to a game on the radio because I've always watched it on television.  Listening to the game is a totally different experience.  Here's what I heard: "Henry gets the handoff, spins away from a tackle, jukes left past a defender, runs through another tackle, LUNGES FORWARD!"  At that point I was getting excited.  My expectation from all that running was a gain of at least 10.  Then the announcer said, "gain of about a yard".  What!  After all that talking and excitement the running back only went forward for about 3 feet.  That wasn't anywhere close to my expectation.

We can have wrong expectations about God and who He is too.  We can get caught in the trap to think we can buy God off by our goodness.  Maybe we think God is a slot-machine where when we do some good works we get to put a "good token" in the slot machine and pull the lever hoping something good will come out or we think of God as our cosmic mac-daddy who if we behave good enough will fulfill all of our greatest desires.  Maybe some of us even think we're not good enough for God to love us.

All of us are on the same boat.  Isaiah 64:6 basically says that the best we can offer God is with our good works is "filthy rags".  Now I don't want to down play exactly what that means.  In the original language written in the Bible the directly translation is a feminine/menstrual cloth.  Many may read that passage and may think the rags are a little dirty or dusty, maybe they're good for dusting.  But no, these rags are good for nothing, they're unclean, they are tainted, even disgusting.  These rags are good for nothing except to be thrown in the trash...they are worthless.

Now you may be offended by what I've written, however, I want you to really think about why you're offended maybe even let that feeling of being offended sink in.  Now I want you to really think about this.  How offended is God, who laid His life down and paid the price with His death, when we offer our good works, our filthy rags, as payment instead of accepting what has already been offered.

We follow God's commands and do good things because we love Him.  Because when Jesus paid the price for us we gave up our rights to ourselves.  We become slaves to Jesus Christ who is the best master anyone could ever serve!  Christ did that through his death.  He took all of our filthiness and made us clean to reconcile us to God with no strings attached.  Let's reflect and celebrate this this month.