I Don’t Deserve This

2 Chronicles 32:1

After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer them for himself.

I came across this article from ‘The Natural Child Project’ which talks about and against rewards and praise to children. The method according to R.Grille ‘springs from the work of psychologists who painstakingly discovered that they could train rats to run mazes, pigeons to peck at colored buttons, and dogs to salivate at the sound of the dinner bell - by giving them a controlled schedule of rewards.’  He rebukes parents like me who use external motivations with a demand for better results instead of appreciating our kids for who they are and what they are doing NOW. Why should their self-worth be others-based? Why should their work be valued for its promised reward instead of being enjoyed as grace?  

King Hezekiah probably never experienced such parental pampering. With the ungodly Ahaz as father, he most likely vowed to become other than what the family expected of him. He may had been the least favorite son for not following their idolatrous ways, notably by not allowing himself to be sacrificed in the fire. Instead he grew up pleasing God alone.  His joy was not dependent on the rewards of his faithfulness, but on the relationship itself. Today’s chapter was proof to that. After three long chapters of his diligence to reform Judah’s ways, the verse above opens with the mighty Assyria threatening the land. That would be disappointing – if he was after God’s ‘fair’ remuneration. To the faithless, peace and prosperity are fitting rewards for obedience. But if we know that God is faithful, no fear or discouragement can make us insecure.

‘I don’t deserve this!’ We’ve heard and said it many times. We know of hardworking students failing board exams; homemakers with unappreciative family members; hundreds of overworked but underpaid employees; and yes, godly men and women in deep pain. But what do we expect actually? If we really want to go along that line of ‘deserving’, the Bible refers to us as sinners deserving death. If we feel we’re way above the sinners-status, the Bible also narrates of the sinless Jesus who suffered undeservedly in our stead.  King Hezekiah embraced the truth of grace and so was unshaken amidst life’s threat and seemingly ‘unfairness’. God’s presence is already more than what we all deserve. But if He is not enough for you, nothing else will.

Unlike Dolphy

2 Chronicles 21:20

Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He passed away, to no one's regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

Acute tonsillopharyngitis.  That’s the bacteria that tied me to bed almost all week. It horribly overwhelmed my system and overruled my schedules. On day two, seeing my kids freely messing the house, I took the TV remote for a breath of sanity. What first popped up was the news of the death of the country’s comedy king, Dolphy.  Grief was not the ideal company for my sickness, but I tuned in - - ‘til his burial. Actually, there’s not much of a choice because all the local channels featured him. He was loved by many, proven by the heartfelt eulogies and the long line of fans wanting to pay him last respects. He may be gone but he will always be remembered as the man who gave us good laughs and made us appreciate the good life.

Now, let’s compare that to the man, King Jehoram. He died half the age of Dolphy, but he passed away ‘to no one’s regret’. Although true heir of Jehoshaphat and Asa, he was denied the honor to be in the tomb of kings. There was no official funeral for him.  No one came to visit him at his deathbed and not even a single camera to feature his incurable, intestinal disease. Because who would? He had no brothers left for he put them all to death on his first year.  His wives and children? They were carried off by the invading Philistines and Arabs. And his people? Would they pay respect to a man who caused everyone to prostitute themselves then left them all in poverty line? Surely his death was wished. His greed for power became Judah’s downfall  and his sin ruling it all.

Actually not all. His sins may be top of the ranks and its effect far out and wide, but it couldn’t touch the sovereignty of God. It did unleash His wrath, but His grace abounded all the more. Amidst the invasion account, verse 17 noted that ‘not a son was left to him except Ahaziah, the youngest’. Any father would grab that cue and be grateful somehow. God knew Jehoram wouldn’t, but He still saved that son. All in light of His love and covenant to the house of David.  Jehoram may have dishonored God. His people may have discredited him. But God still allowed his name mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus. We may not heartily mention his name to our kids, as we do with Abraham, Moses, David, or Dolphy, but may we remember the good God who gave him life, and so much grace ‘til his death.

Deleted Scene

1 Chronicles 20:1

In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, Joab led out the armed forces. He laid waste the land of the Ammonites and went to Rabbah and besieged it, but David remained in Jerusalem. Joab attacked Rabbah and left it in ruins.

One thing I miss from my pre-mommy days is going out for movies. With more or less P200 per tix, it’s now too costly for a family of four to indulge in this kind of weekend bonding. To date, we only had one in the last 3 years, and yes, only because it was our child’s birthday, hahaha :>  Good thing the DVDs and Blu Rays came into being. Still not cheap, but at least one has the luxury of repeats for a lifetime. Another plus with these discs are the inclusion of interviews, production peeks, alternate endings, and deleted or extended scenes.  It’s the full story which every director wants the world to see, but due to either running time, censorship, ratings or added cash in, producers would hold. Regardless, those hidden clips brought depth to the whole watching experience. It moved films even closer to life.

With chapter 19 as another repeat account from 2 Samuel, it all the more highlighted why at the first verse of the next page, where we expect a controversial story to surface, we found none but a passing clue. I’m talking about the adulterous affair of David to Bathsheba. No producer would ever cut such a pivotal clip. Compared to David’s battle with the Ammonites and the Arameans, or his mighty men’s feats with Rapha’s giants, his downfall was definitely more appealing to the masses. So why would the chronicler not retell the story to the remnants? Surely it was not for the purpose of hiding the sin. For why leave the puzzle piece ‘at the time when kings go off to war.. David remained in Jerusalem’ if he wanted it completed forgotten? But why not talk about it? It has a moral story, right? OR, maybe the moral of the story is why God deleted the scene. Better yet, His grace in deleting the sin. One account is enough for us to learn from David’s mistakes. God saw no more need to dig up rotten filths, especially those dearest to Him. His love saw no purpose in keeping records of wrong, especially those who humbly sought to make it right with Him. And in case you missed it, it’s His call as the Producer.

There was a time in my life when I wished my testimony was more dramatic like those ultra-sinners turned Christians. I felt my experiences being in church all my life can pull no soul to see His grace abounding. One time in college, after hearing big stories of God’s provision and healing, one young lady praised God that although her experiences were seemingly simple, it was enough proof of God’s grace. Because while other were rescued amidst difficulty, God saw it fit that she was not at the scene at all. And that for her, was a miracle.  The point is, we are not the main characters here. Not our sins, not our repentance, not our moving on. God is the story here. If all we talk about is Pacman’s sin and sudden lifechange, we might as well delete it.  It should be God and His salvation hitting headlines. Sure, people will ask how we were in our past life, but the question is, do we have more to share now that God is in our lives? The beauty in Jesus’ film is because those scenes were nailed on the cross. All done and deleted. I love how Aslan declared it:  ‘Here is your brother, and there is no need to talk to him about what is past’. So instead of asking what’s been deleted, know WHY it was deleted. It’s the full story God wants the world to see.

Stunning Surprise

1 Chronicles 3:17

The descendants of Jehoiachin the captive: Shealtiel his son.

When I called my dad after Christmas, he was unstoppably praising God that my sister and my mom were on their way to her medical school, bringing with them the 93K tuition fee.  93K! I was high pitched myself at the miracle. For how were they able to raise that amount in two months time with his pastoral salary? God’s provision was just amazing! Their noodles and corned beef meals helped a lot too, haha :>  Day after that, my dad texted again that my cousin’s family from the province visited them for Christmas gifts – a Pinoy tradition. I can imagine the struggle in my parents’ heart to give because by then, they only had a few left. But in faith, they gave. That same day, an old lady friend dropped by the house and blessed them with cash gifts. They were pop-eyed once more. God tested their hearts to go empty for Him to fill them anew.  ‘Twas not the first time,  but God loves surprising them everytime :>

I started reading Chronicles three days ago and so far, it was all names and more names. A family tree template to be exact. There were some with interesting descriptions, like the mighty warrior Nimrod, or Peleg, in whose time the earth was divided, or the Edom kings, but I can’t seem to find anything relevant to life. Until I stumbled upon Jehoiachin’s name. He owned the last four verses of 2 Kings, and yes, I also found this evil king irrelevant. He reigned in Judah just three months and ten days, then he surrendered and was taken to Babylon, together with all the temple treasures. He was kept in prison for thirty seven years, then the unbelievable happed: Nebuchadnezzar’s son, now the king, released him and gave him a seat of honor, even higher than those of the other kings with him in Babylon. It was noted that he regularly ate at the king’s table, was kindly spoken to and was given allowance as long as he lived. How come? I let him escape my thoughts and his life excluded in my blog. But God never disregards any man, righteous or unrighteous. He saw to it that I’d stop to this familiar name again. And then the surprising realization: Jehoichin was where the bloodline from David to Jesus will pass through! God preserved and honored him, though undeservedly, because of Christ!  A stunning truth.

Grace still amazes me. Its extent surprises me. Grace can make any man climb heights though the world thinks he’s better underground.  Grace allowed evil kings of Judah ruling, included foreign women in Jesus’ geneology, even called Judas part of the Twelve. All served His purpose. All paved the way to Jesus’ glory. You and I are part of that grace list. Regardless if we acknowledge His Lordship or not, we will serve His will. Regardless if others  attach zero potentials to our names, He can accomplish great things through us. We may have prison walls around us now, but in time, He will surprise us with that release. Grace does that. Because of Christ, grace overflows. That’s the stunning truth!

Teary-Eyed

2 Kings 13:4

Then Jehoahaz sought the LORD's favor, and the LORD listened to him, for he saw how severely the king of Aram was oppressing Israel.

‘To weep is to make less the depth of grief’, said Shakespeare. How true! When our hearts cry out loud, surreal calmness indescribably follows. It’s as if our problems found its solution well in fact we haven’t left that corner of the room. How come? According to studies, we have three different types of tears: basal to keep our eyes moist, reflex to protect us from irritants, and emotional tears in response to sadness and pain. The last one is said to contain more manganese and prolactin affecting our temperaments that when we sob, it eliminates the chemical build up, relieves the tension and balances the stress level. But that’s just the physiological benefit. Wikipedia notes that ‘recent psychological theories of crying emphasize the relationship of crying to the experience of perceived helplessness’. ScienceLine on the other hand wrote that expressing sadness can prompt comfort and support. Like how babies call in their parents and how adults bond with grieving family members. By simple connect-the-dots, now we know why crying can really manipulate a response.

In verse seven of today’s chapter, we read of Israel’s army reduced to fifty horsemen, ten chariots and ten thousand foot soldiers. Compare that to David’s one million and one hundred able-bodied men (plus four hundred seventy thousand in Judah) and Solomon’s twelve thousand horses and fourteen hundred chariots - - it was depressingly far from Israel’s glory days.  Hazael really made Jehoahaz’ rule like the dust at threshing time. With their fortified cities burned, Israel did not live in their homes. They were always on the run, hunted to death as prophesied by Elisha. Forget about being the biggest loser and your family feuds, the survivor game tops the helplessness button. Elisha himself wept in front of Hazael when God showed it to him two reigns prior Jehoahaz’. Now imagine being in the middle of it. The cries reached the heavens for sure. But it passed through the palace first. In plenty, this king had the pride to turn his back from God. But now unable to hush the pains of the land, his own included, he humbly resorted to seek the Lord. If helplessness really triggers the tear gland, we can imagine it flooding here. And as designed, we can imagine an autopilot in heaven: tears moving His heart of compassion and the humble surrender prompting His grace. Amazing!

Do you really believe in prayer? Can you really move the hand of God with your tears? Or the world and our lives already written to the dot and we’re just playing the role? When our pastor asked that in our Day of Prayer two weeks ago, he was met with silent stares. We were all juggling our verses and theologies, not in confusion, but more in coming up with a straight line answer. I will not attempt to lay it all down here, but here’s my simple take home: it was God himself who gave the words ask and pray. He is the God of truth. There’s no insincerity in Him and He will in no way mislead us. In omniscience, He knew what we will ask, but as a Father, He delights in that conversation. Two of the earlier accounts of God hearing the hearts cry was that of Hagar and Leah. They were mockers to the wives of Israel’s forefathers. By mercy, He attended to their tears despite their past. By grace, He blessed them regardless of how their sons will mistreat Israel in the future. Imagine the eternal God stepping in time to be their ever-present Help? Amazing grace! That thief on the cross had nothing to offer Jesus. Sin was written on his past and death was his near future. But that second he sought salvation, Jesus promised him paradise! What unconditional love! Now I’m teary-eyed :>

Favors for Her

2 Kings 8:1

Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, ‘Go away with your family and stay for a while wherever you can, because the LORD has decreed a famine in the land that will last seven years.’

This coming Friday, my little girl will turn three. I’m feeling quite sentimental that her baby-ness will really be all behind her. I’d sure miss hearing her cute, mispronounced words and carrying her around.  She’s really a delight. I really praise God for not answering my prayers for two boys. His wisdom knew I’d need a daily dose of those kikay charms.  This weekend will be our turn to give back the cheer. As any good parent would, I plan to make it a very special day. And by day, I mean, all day. She’ll wake up to a balloon–filled room with her favorite pancake breakfast, then I’ll bring her to the mall for a good run in the park area. Lunch would sure be spaghetti, fries, and ice cream of course. Then we’ll let her roam around Toy Kingdom, find her a simple dollhouse, and end the day in one of those paid playhouses. It will be a full day of fun for her – favor after favor, as much as possible. It’d be my joy to see her wide-eyed in delight. And I’d do it because I love her.

If I know how to give good gifts to my children, how much more our heavenly Father! In this eighth chapter, we read again of His favor to the Shunammite woman. She was the well-to-do hostess of Elisha, providing him not just with meals but allotting him a room in her house. Her generous kindness was first rewarded with pregnancy, a miracle considering their age. It is notetaking she never asked for it. She was a content woman. It was her joy to give to God’s work. But she can’t outgive God. His second favor was seeing her son restored to life. That’s extraordinarily big. Far exceeding than our definition of grace. But again, God is better than our parenting gurus. For His third blowout, she was spared from seven years of famine. Her family was taken out even before scarcity was felt by everyone. Not while. Before! Then after seven years, when she returned to Israel, awaiting her was the fourth treat. Everything that belonged to her was given back, ordered by no less than the king, with all its income from the day she left the country ‘til her return.  

    

Who was this Shunammite woman to deserve so much grace? She was allotted two chapters in the Bible, four big miracles at least. We’d understand if the favors were given to the likes of Abraham, Moses, and David. They did great things for the kingdom. This woman doesn’t even have a name. All she did was provide a home for a prophet and be content with her life. We’d say, ‘Well, I can do that. How come I’m not big-time blessed?’ Maybe that’s the difference. Her eye was on the Giver, not the gift; serving the Master, not for the money. But is it really about the woman being generous or more about God being so gracious? Or are we just envious because God was good to her?  We can’t know much what really caused God to delight in her, but He did. It sure was not our standard of promotion and rewards. His thoughts and ways are higher than ours. The main point here is not what to do to have His blessings. Our take home here is to marvel at God’s wonderful grace. If that’s too simple for us, too uncomplicated, too basic, then no wonder we can’t appreciate His daily miracles. We’re all waiting for our wants, never really watching His hand.  Let’s stop looking around, comparing notes on who and why they got bigger favors. Instead look at the Cross and see how much love He already poured out for us - - the undeserving us. There’s no more case in point here. Grace is a done deal. You're saying there’s  an overflow? Now, isn’t that just amazing!

Given Grace

2 Kings 6:10

So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.

The FB wall flooded yesterday with the news of the death, and possibly rape, of a third year ComSci UPLB student. Many readily changed their profile pictures to black ribbon badges calling for justice and in sympathy to the family. It was heartbreaking to know she too was a pastor’s kid like me.  I cried over a video posted awhile ago with her singing Hillsong’s ‘Lord of Lords’ in church. ‘Oh Lord, why her? Why her family? They’re in Your service. They’ve been faithful.’ We all have questions.

And then this reading. Verse eight gives us the context that the king of Aram was setting camps and traps to harm Israel’s king. But eveytime he did so, Elisha already pre-warned the king so that he was on guard in such places. It enraged the Syrian so much that he shifted his orders to capturing the intelligence instead. Although that too will fail if you continue reading. Israel’s protection is God Himself. 24/7. Even if a strong army surrounds a city, His fiery chariots will outnumber them. At Elisha’s prayer, their enemies went blind and trapped helpless inside the gates. God can do this for His people. Even if they strayed away and worshipped lifeless idols. Amazing is His given grace.

And so we ask, if God can protect the faithless, shouldn’t the faithful deserve more? Read again and refer to what grace means and we’ll have a glimpse of His answer. Oftentimes our image of being in His service is having the faith that can win against wars, injustice, lions, flames, or death. But the heroes in Hebrews 11 were also found tortured, flogged, stoned, sawed in two and put to death. They were mistreated, persecuted, and many lived in destitute. Unfair? Refer this time to what faith means. God’s  people live life and face death forward looking. Here and now is not where we can find better lives.  There is no safety here. But like that young lady, we can be saved from here. A place where no moth and rust can destroy. A place where tears are no more. Where death or sorrow or crying or pain are gone forever. I’m sure you still feel she doesn’t deserve what happened to her. God understands. Here’s His statement in verse 38: ‘The world was not worthy of her’.

Unseen Guest

2 Kings 3:11b

But Jehoshaphat asked, "Is there no prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD through him?" An officer of the king of Israel answered, "Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah."

Discovery Health had this article entitled ‘Can a person remember being born?’ Nah, I won’t even try to translate their medical-slash-scientific explanations here -  the terms are way too big for me. The best I picked up was the relationship of verbal development to our memory. That if we don’t have the words to describe the event when it happened, most likely, we couldn’t describe it later even with the available vocabulary. That makes sense. No wonder one of my earliest memories was that plaque in our family wall that reads ‘Christ is the Head of this House, the Unseen Guest at every Meal, the Silent Listener to every Conversation ’. I even remember mispronouncing that last word as ‘conver-cha-tion’. It probably was my first memorized rhyme ever. But most of all, I know, back then, that helped me imagine God being near us all the time. God was so right in instructing His people to write His words on the doorframes :>

When King Joram went out to pursue Moab, God was not just the unseen Guest, He was uninvited actually. There was no mention that His will was consulted or if His help was needed. Not even when King Jehoshaphat, a supposedly believer, joined in.  These two kings planned what they thought best and that’s it. Their scheme was to take the long route through the desert so as to fetch another ally, the King of Edom. From there, they’ll  march towards south of Moab for the surprise element. That made sense – except for the words desert and seven days walk.  Nursing mothers will never miss that detail :> But nobody’s perfect. Nobody but One. Seeing eternity in a flash, God knew their waters will dry up, that they’ll be distressed and soon be dead! And so from behind the scenes, He told Elisha to pack and go with the army as an unseen, uninvited guest.  Even before their jugs were empty, God had already filled the gap. Even though they called Him not, His care followed them nonetheless.  His prophet was there as proof that He’s an ever-present Help in time of need.  

God’s timing is perfect. On the dot, no second-delay. Not even prayerlessness will keep His grace from coming alongside us. His Help has long been sent, as early as eternity past, for our receiving. He’s always been in our camp for as long as we can remember. His tools are complete for our anytime, out-of-the blue contingency needs. Even if we consider Him our last resort, or we want Him kept hidden. If God made waters to flow and fill a desert valley for the ungodly Joram and the compromising Jehoshaphat, imagine what they’d see if He was their Invited Guest!  I wish I have more time to poetically rephrase that family frame and share it here. I just feel it presents Jesus passively using those words ‘unseen’ and ‘silent’. In a sense He is. But as part of our lives, He is not. He is a relational God. We can actually see Him at work in and through us. And He is never silent, for His Words are written and revealed. Well I guess let's just choose a real bible verse as wall post next time :>

Ravens, Then and Now

1 Kings 17:4

You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there.

When Grey’s Anatomy turned gray and too relational (instead of medical), we’re just glad to have found House M.D.  Admittedly inspired by Sherlock Holmes, the lead character’s genius wit and funny sarcasm in diagnosing the undiagnosable is just addictive. The last episode we caught was House (Hugh Laurie) finding his six-months-missing-in-action team member Thirteen (Olivia Wilde) coming out of prison. She was fenced in for drugs but her true guilt was for euthanizing her very sick brother.  What is charming in this episode is to surprisingly see the  soft, sympathetic side of House. At the last scene, he assured her of doing the same mercy-killing when Huntington’s hold knocks at her door. But of course it wouldn’t be House without a follow up kick script: “I´d do it now if you want to. I have a baseball bat in the back.” :>

Like House, ravens are better known for its villainous side. They are black and greedy and mean. Moses’ law regarded them unclean and in Proverbs, they are the eye-pickers called to punish rebellious children. They eat the young of other birds and expel their own from their nest. So brute and beastly! And yet in today’s verse, we see them being used by God to twice-a-day feed a major prophet. Picture this: uncaring birds bringing care? omnivorous birds delivering bread and meat? Here’s the highlight: In famine!  So unimaginably impossible! Care to guess why House all of a sudden turned soft in season 7? It was because he found love in Cuddy. Job 38:41says God hears the cry of young ravens and provides for them. Jesus reiterated their value in God’s sight in Luke 12. God loves them and as part of His creation, called them good. They were centerstaged as the first creatures to fly around the newly-washed earth in Noah’s time. And now, He’s performing another miracle through them.  Amazing grace!

Thieving birds. Father of omens. Messengers of death. These names show how ancient people poorly regard ravens. So like how we call some people ‘black sheep’, ‘son of a …’, or ‘dirty tramp’. Our parents call them bad company, teachers expect none from their papers, movies kill them all in the end. And if you’re one of them, you’d soon come to own and believe it was your destiny to fail. But God sees us otherwise. He saw us good when He formed us in our mother’s womb. He watches our going out and lying down. He hears our silent cries and feels our deepest pains. And when all others marked us hopeless, God calls us to serve His purposes, to show men of His grace. Jesus came for us, sinners. His final act on earth was to a thief on a cross. He invited him to eternal life and he received it. Same gift we’re being offered. Take it and soar anew. And when you see other ravens still picking on others’ eyes, don’t label them with names you too once had. Grace is what they need. And soon, His grace they will give:>

Dark Past

1 Kings 15:3

Nevertheless, for David's sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and by making Jerusalem strong. For David had done what was right in the eyes of the LORD and had not failed to keep any of the LORD's commands all the days of his life--except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.

Wikipedia defined prequel as a work that supplements a previously completed one, and has an earlier time setting. In movies, it usually points back to how dark characters arrived to being Godfathers, Darth Vader or Hannibal Lecter. It presents them young as orphaned, deceived, and traumatized, which explains their inclination to the dark side. That without those incidents, they might have taken the good path. But there are prequels too that were created to expose our heroes’ dim past. We saw Wolverine murder his father and violently fought alongside his villain half-brother Sabretooth;  we hope to watch soon that it was really a son of Adam (the Pevensies’ uncle himself) who woke up the White Witch in Narnia;  and next year, we’ll witness how Bilbo steals the ring, and the dragon’s cup, and Thorin’s dynasty heirloom. Not so admirable for our well-loved hobbits :<

We’re almost two generations past David and still we find him here acknowledged for his devotion to God. More or less a thousand years more, that is, twenty eight more generations, his name will be most favored as people will call Jesus ‘the Son of David’.  Read ‘til the last book, and we’ll still find him mentioned. Why so much credit for someone with an adulterous and murderous background? Surely parents would not recommend such a role model for their children. Was it his devotion? Will our service outweigh our offense? How about this word: GRACE. There was nothing in David to deserve nor earn such favor. It all God’s choosing. Grace called him from tending sheep to ruling a nation; grace empowered his sling to kill a goliath; grace forgave his scandalous sins and with that same woman the wisest king that ever lived became his son; and, grace kept his royal line a thousand years more, despite his sons’ unfaithfulness.

The Bible saw it fit not to hide David’s flaws. It did mar his image. It even outlived him. But not so we would feast around his disgrace. It was meant to encourage us with the truth that ‘where sin increased, God’s grace abounds all the more’.  Our past may be dark and dim and degrading, but in light of His salvation, all has been forgiven and we are made new. Yes, new. Remember we don’t have a God who just reinvents junks, He is the Creator who starts from scratch.  The enemy will surely try to deceive us with guilt-tripping, but we have His Word to confirm that in Jesus, we are His new creation. So if anyone tries to resurrect your old life again, we can have this script: ‘Dark past? Oh, you mean God’s grace?’. Now, that’s a prequel worth sharing :>  

Who’s Who?

2 Samuel 7:18-19

“Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said: ‘Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, O Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant. Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign Lord?’

Centuries ago, man believed that the earth is the center of the solar system. We are the reference point and all else revolves around us. Also true with all firstborns. We cry and our parents rush to attend to us. We smile and they’d babble with us. We get sick and everyone stays in the house. All works in harmony with the reference point. Until Copernicus dethroned our world and pointed to the sun. Until our brother was born and took centerstage.

In the second half of this chapter, God wowed David with His  overwhelming blessings. He reminded this once-shepherd his awesome journey from sheep pen to cedar palace - - a cast out turned crowned king. God made him look around and see peace in the land and favors from heaven. Now who would ever think there’s more to most, or higher than highest?  Only in God’s dictionary! He promised David his lineage will occupy the throne forever. No insurance could beat that. David was understandably humbled and dumbfounded. His first words were, ‘Who Am I?’. He was way before Copernicus so let’s be more considerate :> He saw himself as the reference point and knowing his flaws and failures, he couldn’t understand why grace is coming his way. ‘It is just too much!’ was his receiving speech. But because he was in the praying posture, God’s glory so shine he couldn’t help but put his gaze off himself. Then it hit him: not who I am, but because He is I AM! ‘How Great You are, O Sovereign Lord!’

Think about it. We usually cry for our rights, our well-deserved benefits, our long years of hard work. We feel we’re treated unfairly and ignored and uncared for. But if we want to push ourselves as the reference point for His blessings, do you think we’d even reach minimum? Not even our best efforts could outweigh our daily sins, make that per minute for ungodly thoughts. Praise God He is the point of grace. He gives because that’s who He is. Not even when He rewards us for faithfulness that it shifts to our share of work. It is still God who empowered us for service. Discontent says ‘It’s too little’. Pride says ‘it’s too much’. God says, ‘I AM. Is anything too hard for me?’

Reese’s For You

1 Samuel 30:24

“The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike.”

Googling to find the meaning of share, I found the following words: apportion equally. I chuckled remembering how we shared the Hershey’s Reese’s Selecta Ice Cream last weekend. It was MY discovery when we went to do groceries. In my mind, I was greeding MINE! hahaha! But of course, I had to share it with my family. Tristan knew how much I loved Reese’s and so whenever my turn comes to have a spoonful, he made sure mine’s with a big chunk. It was a superb delight, but I guess our share definition missed the mark.

When David and his men returned from overtaking the Amalek raiders, they were not just able to recover their wives and children, but also a great amount of plunder. I’m sure the four hundred were already calculating their portion and the comforts they can acquire with it. Crossing that ravine again, they were greeted by the two hundred who were left behind. Filled with greed and pride, they readily defended their rightful share and debased their weaker brothers as unworthy of any slice. Imagine coming out alive in a tragedy and while everybody else was just praising God to still have their family with them, you’ll hear some people keeping stocks to themselves. Blood-boil right? David rebuked his men not in raging impatience, as some of us might do, but in truth. These were his exact words, ‘My brothers, you must not do that with what the Lord has given us. He has protected us and handed over to us the forces that came against us.’ Grace tells us that no one deserves favor from God. Not the naughty, not the nice. The four hundred were not the rescuers. It was not even David. It was all God’s work. He is the Landowner who has the right to apportion. Are we envious because He’s generous?

When we see the wicked prospering, why are we downhearted? Because we’re  more deserving? When we’ve been working to death and a co-worker gets promoted, do we cry unfair? Are we saying God is unjust? When we’re up there, we may see our compensation equal to our task. Serves us right, we say. But when we’re down there and favored with a lot, aren’t we more inclined to call it a blessing? If we’re to apportion according to gratefulness, who will you choose? I don’t say that is how God operates. Of course He rewards us accordingly. But He gives not according to our merits, but because He is Grace. Now He’s calling us to share - - to apportion equally. Not from our spare, not in favor of friends, but according to His grace. I guess that’s a chunk of Reese’s for all of us! Cheers to Grace!