The Fight or the Father? Daily Devotional -- August 1st, 2009

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 18, Jeremiah 22, Romans 9
　
　
We once lost sight of our daughter Hannah for a moment at Seaworld, and even though it was only for a moment, it truly felt like an eternity. At that moment we both walked away from our stroller that had all of our stuff in it to look for our daughter. Someone could have stolen all of our stuff, and as long as our daughter was safe we wouldn’t have cared. The only thing we cared about at that moment was finding our Hannah girl and making sure she was safe. She was fine, and running around with a bright smile on her face not knowing that she scared her parents half to death!

I can relate to David’s worry and concern for his child. Even though Absalom had betrayed and undermined his father David, David’s number one concern was still for his son’s safety. David’s messengers came to tell them of the victory of the battle, but he wasn’t concerned about this. His first question was "Is Absalom safe?" They wanted David to rejoice in the "good news" but the only news David cared about was whether or not his son was safe. They were so focused on the fight that they forgot that they were addressing the father.

It is a reflection and parallel of the love and mercy of God for his children. Isn’t God’s love for us incredible? That even while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). That although we have turned our backs on him, rejected his invitation and tried to become ruler of our own lives (rather than allowing him to rule) his concern was always for us. It is just as it was in the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve rebelled. God didn’t ask if the serpent won or not, he just asked his children where they were. He was more concerned about separation from his children than anything else.

Many times we become like Absalom or David's messengers, more focused on the fight than we are on the father. Let's not become so distracted by what the enemy is trying to do that we take our eyes off of what God is trying to do. We give the enemy too much credit. God has much bigger plans in store for us than for us to get caught up in menial battles. If we spent as much time and energy on Him as we do focusing on battles that aren't worth fighting, imagine the possibilities?

If you have been focused on the wrong things or feel like you have failed God this week, remember that nothing can seperate us from His love. He is a loving father whose main concern is and will always be a relationship with his children.

"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39


Thank you for reading and responding,
Melissa Miller

Post a Comment! Questions for reflection and response:
1. Can you think of some battles not worth fighting that only distract us from the Lord?
2. When you feel like you have messed up, what is your usual response? (Distance, denial, immediate repentance, shame, etc.)
　
　
Tomorrows reading: 2 Samuel 19, Jeremiah 23, Romans 10-11