1/18/2022
Acts 13:18 "He endured their conduct for about forty years in the dessert."
Wow, did this one verse during our morning devotions hit me like a truck! Wham! God "endured their conduct". After He brought them out of bondage, the Israelites still didn't comply with God's law. Boy, how many of us can say that with our own parents? They gave us food, shelter, safety, a faith base (if we were so blessed), and love among countless other things. Most of us - at some point, anyway - went against their rules and wisdom; some to a greater degree than others. Yes, most parents endured their children's poor behavior, and they loved us despite it even if that was through discipline This is, of course, what God did for the Israelites, and it is what He does for us as well. No matter how much He did for them, they still disobeyed and didn't listen, and I do exactly the same. I am a willful child. Yet, He endures my behavior with love, grace, mercy, and sometimes correction. This behavior has been true since the beginning of time.
The chapter goes on to say that God, after enduring His chosen people's transgressions, bestowed land upon them and great leaders rose from their ranks ,of which one was King David. "Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled for forty years. After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.' From this man's descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised." (Acts 13:21-23 NIV) Jesus, God's only Son and the Savior of the world, came thorough these people that were not always the best of children. Finally, almost 500 years later, David, a man after God's own heart, helped to change God's chosen ones into people of faith. Certainly, King David himself was also far from perfect. We must remember always, however, that through this line of willful and disobedient people came our Savior Jesus.
It starts with me. Every movement or act of goodness begins with an individual. In the Bible, David was one of these people, and there are so many others. Men and women who walked in faith and lived by God's law no matter the circumstances or consequences. These were not extraordinary people with superpowers, they were merely people who wanted to please their Heavenly Father. Imagine if that was my singular goal as a believer? What would happen to the world if I was a person after God;s own heart, and did everything He says? What if we all were, and did? It would transform the entire world. So, what am I waiting for? Hasn't God endured enough of my weak faith?
1 comment:
What he have been talking about particularly in my Religion classes is how God continued to want a relationship with his people even after they screwed up, and sinned, and doubted him! He never gave up on them. And although they were faithful people willing to do what God wanted but they still messed up. Look at David. LOOK AT DAVID. A man after God's own heart, who messed up continually, but he sought God, begged for his mercy, and therein pleased God.
He's not looking for us to be perfect. He's looking for us to admit to our brokenness and to turn to him. David was all he wanted in a king, but he was still A WORK IN PROGRESS until the end.
We all are. And God bless us all that we have a King who loves us, protects us, guides us, and gives us hope.
Have a beautiful day Lehann!!!
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