Grace For The Journey

  Sometimes we have a tendency to weigh the efforts of others on our own scales and believe we know best what everyone deserves.  In our human economy, merit is the measure of what is meted out.  Certain levels of performance demand certain levels of compensation.  In other words, those who do more get more!

But in God’s economy, everything has been turned upside down.  Take a look at this wonderful example from the Old Testament of . . .

God’s mercy

Overriding

Man’s merit,

Which is revealed in David’s battle against the Amalekites.

The Bible records this event in 1 Samuel 30:21-24, “Now David came to the two hundred men who had so weary that they could not follow David, whom they also had made to stay at the Brook Besor.  So they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him, and when David came near the people, he greeted them.  Then all the wicked and worthless men of those who went with David answered and said, ‘Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except for every man’s wife and children, that they may lead them away and depart.’  But David said, ‘My brethren, you shall not do so with what the LORD has given us, who has preserved us and delivered into our hand the troop that came against us.  For who will heed you in this matter?  But as his part is who goes down to the battle, so shall his part be who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike.’”

This should be a wonderful word of comfort to all who read this blog today, regardless of your station in God’s kingdom.  I often think about those “senior” saints who simply no longer have the physical vitality to engage in the more physical aspects of expanding God’s kingdom, but who are continually on their faces before our God, asking the Lord to protect His saints and equip them to continue to expand His kingdom.  Our church family is blessed to have many such warriors of the Word who spend hours before the Throne of God!

Who is more valuable in the expansion of the kingdom of God:

Those who are actually in the battle

Or those who “stayed with the supplies”

And guarded them?

In the eyes of both David and God, those who were “too exhausted” to participate in the battle were every bit as much true soldiers as those who actually engaged in the fight.

Make no mistake, not everyone can be on the front lines.  But everyone can and must engage in the battle – doing his or her individual part, as God has ordained.  Perhaps you are a saint who has been providentially prevented from participating in the actual physical work of expanding God’s kingdom because of . . .

• Age
• Injury
• Sickness & Disease
• Circumstance

What a wonderful truth to take with you today!  An equal share for all the saints, regardless of their station in the battle to expand God’s kingdom.

This is God’s Word For Today … This Is Grace For The Journey

Rest and Rejoice in this eternal truth!

Pastor Terry

Ephesians 4:7 – “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”

Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”