The Works of God

I’m grateful that Pastor John pushes us to go deeper into God’s word to see  and enjoy more of God’s intentions and plans and designs for his glory.  Alistair Begg does the same, like in this accounting of Mephibosheth, who was lame in both of his feet and the grandson of Saul, David’s mortal enemy. He was also the son of David’s greatest friend:

Mephibosheth was not an attractive guest at the royal table; yet he had an open invitation because King David could see in his face the features of the beloved Jonathan. Like Mephibosheth, we may exclaim to the King of Glory, “What is Your servant, that You should show regard for a dead dog such as I?” But still the Lord invites us to share intimately with Him, because He sees in our countenances the remembrance of His dearly-beloved Jesus.

Alistair Begg, Mephibosheth’s Example, May 27 Devotional

When we cling to Jesus, God sees Jesus’ righteousness and we get more of God rather than the punishment we deserve!  We are not turned away but embraced!

Pastor John pointed out that this can work in the other direction as well.  After Mephibosheth had been lied about and David had made a decision to give half of what rightfully belonged to Mephibosheth to the man who had lied about him:

Mephibosheth said to the king, “Oh, let him take it all, since my lord the king has come safely home.” (2 Samuel 19:30)

This is how we should feel about king Jesus. He has come to save us. And he will come a second time to be with us forever. He is our inheritance and our great reward.

Jesus is greater than anything!  It isn’t just to avoid God’s wrath that we should cling to him (as great a gift as that is); if that’s all there is to it, we have really missed the greatest gift of all in being with Jesus forever.

And God chose to use the lame grandson of the enemy of the king to be an example of God’s great mercy and to point us to the center of our joy.  We should never doubt that God is doing something great for his glory and for our joy through disability, even when it is not immediately obvious to us.  Someday, it will be!