Context for this week’s devotionals can be found in the story of David and Mephibosheth. You can read the whole account here: 1 Samuel 20, 2 Samuel 4:4, 2 Samuel 9
Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.
Yesterday we were introduced to Mephibosheth. Being the grandson of the King, we might assume that he would be looked at with great respect. However, Mephibosheth was likely hidden away from the public because he was lame. In those days people with disabilities weren’t looked upon kindly, especially those of royalty. It actually would have been considered a sign of weakness. People with disabilities were the lowly people of society.
I wonder what that felt like for Mephibosheth? My suspicion is he felt unwanted, lonely, unloved, or maybe even jealous of others.
Mephibosheth’s story took place a long time ago, and although time has changed some regarding the stereotypes surrounding people with disabilities or those who have been marginalized in our society, much remains the same. I believe that breaks God’s heart, and that as followers of Christ we are called to a different way of living.
Maybe you have someone in your life who is that person. Maybe it is a stranger. A person living in their car, sitting outside their home every morning while we tirelessly drive to work, someone of a different color or faith, or a person who just doesn’t act the way “we” think they should.
God calls us to show his love to everyone – not who we think deserves it, but everyone. As humans this can be hard for all of us. It is hard to break a generational way of thinking. However, God sees all His people as a masterpiece, even us.
The cool thing is that God doesn’t just call us to love and then leaves it to us to figure out how to do it. We have His power to help us learn a new way of thinking so we can love more. All we have to do is ask Him to help us be more like Him in showing love to others and He will soften our hearts and show us the way.
