Reading With the People of God #10 Kingdomنموونە

Focus of the month: (Kingdom)

7 Now, therefore, thus shall you say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people Israel, 8 and I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 9 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall waste them no more, as formerly, 10 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I declare to you that the LORD will build you a house. 11 When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, 14 but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.’ ”.

- 1 Chronicles 17:7-14

“Do you love me?”

Today as we read the passages of 2 Samuel 8 and John 21, we will notice that both represent a story of restoration and renewal after failure. Both David (2 Samuel) and Peter (John 21) are given a second chance to demonstrate their love and commitment to God. Both of these leaders are renewed in their positions even after the mistakes they have made.

Peter, a disciple of Jesus, was disobedient, denied Christ, failed many times, made mistakes, and doubted, and yet Jesus still chose him to go “feed his sheep.” David was known as a man after God's heart, and he, too, failed and made mistakes. Three times, Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?” Jesus wanted to encourage Peter. He wanted to remind Peter that if he truly loved the Lord, then he would show this by tending to his sheep: those who belong to Christ. Jesus wanted Peter to know how important his new role of disciple-making would be. Peter would have a renewed purpose in life, being an undershepherd and shepherding the flock.

God is so faithful! Even when we make mistakes, are disobedient, fail, and sin, He still loves us just the same! He still pours out His mercy and grace upon us. I have failed many times. I make mistakes daily. And my Father never gives up on me! We are all blessed with special gifts and talents, and we are to share these with others, all for the glory of God. They are not ours to store away and hide. We are to use them to help save souls for the Kingdom of God. We can share the gospel with these gifts and talents by bringing others closer to God. We are not to compare ourselves with others; we are to encourage one another. And we are still given second chances despite all of our mistakes. JESUS NEVER GIVES UP ON US! This should be an encouragement to continue to strive to be more obedient daily. Our Father knows we will never be perfect at this. However, we can try and be the best that we can. Do you love Jesus? He wants us to love Him wholeheartedly, knowing it won’t be perfect love like His love for us.

Oh, Father God, You are so faithful! So Holy! So Merciful! We are sorry for not loving as much as we should sometimes. We are sorry for putting other “things” or “people” or our own pleasures before You. We thank You so much for loving us the way You do, even when we fail and make mistakes. We thank You for the gifts and talents You have blessed each one of us with. Please use each of us to be a blessing to others and for others to be a blessing to us. We ask for salvation over lost souls, over the sick, over the brokenhearted. Send us out, LORD, to use the gifts You have given us to shepherd Your flock. We ask this in Your Holy and Mighty name Jesus! AMEN!

* Primer contributed by Amanda Moon, Member of Cornerstone Community Church