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
Yesterday we were introduced to Mephibosheth. Being the grandson of the King, you would think he was looked at with grandeur but in those days, he likely was hidden away from the public because he was lame. You see people with disabilities weren’t looked upon kindly, especially those of royalty. It would be considered a sign of weakness. They were the lowly of society.
I wonder what that felt like to Mephibosheth. My suspicion is he felt unwanted, lonely, unloved, or maybe even jealous of his siblings and the favor shown on them.
This year, my husband and I decided to travel the country and serve God. Our heart’s desire was to learn more about people and show them God’s love. One of the ways we serve is by volunteering. We have served at food pantries, resale shops and shelters. These places serve what society still considers the lowly. It is hard to believe that it still exists in today’s age, but if we are real with ourselves, we know it to be true.
We are learning there are stories behind the situations in which people in need find themselves. Sometimes it is from bad choices and other times they did not have a choice in their circumstance. There is generational family dysfunction, lifelong poverty, or the need to relieve pain. It is easy to say, why don’t they just get out? Or, they are just happy to take from society – and that may be true, but often, it is not.
Maybe you have someone in your life who is that person. Maybe they were at your table this Christmas. Or maybe, because of their circumstances, they were not. 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. We see as far back as Mephibosheth’s time in history, there was judgement on the lowly. 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 God doesn’t just call us to love and leaves it 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.
Let our New Year’s resolution this coming year be one of love to all people.
