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16 July 2007
2 Samuel 4 v 1-4
When Ish-Boshe the son of Saul heard that Abner had died at Hebron, he was shocked and all Israel became frightened. Two men who were captains in Saul's army came to Ish-Bosheth. One was named Baanah, and the other was named Recab. They were the sons of Rimmon of Beeroth, who was a Benjaminite. (The town Beeroth belonged to the tribe of Benjamin. The people of Beeroth ran away to Gittaim, and they still live there as foreigners today.)
(Saul's son Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both feet. He was five years old when the news came from Jezreel that Saul and Jonathan were dead. Mephibosheth's nurse had picked him up and run away. But as she hurried to leave, she dropped him, and now he was lame.)
Poor Mephibosheth. Not only did his parents give him an unpronounceable name, but in a tragic accident he was dropped as a child and made lame. A single moment of thoughtlessness and he was marred for life. Presumably the nurse thought she was doing the right thing. She was running away to save both herself and the child, but in her rush and panic she made a terrible mistake.
Will you find yourself rushing today? Trying to meet a deadline, pushed to get somewhere on time, or just with two many things to do, all demanding to be done at once? Panic and rush all too often lead to mistakes. Perhaps we are not likely to drop any children today, but often a word spoken too quickly and then regretted, or missing an opportunity to serve or thank another person are signs we are living in panic rather than peace.
Jesus told his disciples that he gave them his peace. Peace is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives. Peace marks out God's people in a world where pressure and panic all too often drive emotions and actions. Because we know our lives are in God's hands we can stand against pressure and panic and be people of peace. What will be driving you today? Pressure and panic, or God's peace?
God of peace, fill me with your Holy Spirit today. Please help me live in your peace despite the moments of pressure and panic this day might bring. Amen
Written by David Booker
2 Samuel 4 v 1-4
When Ish-Boshe the son of Saul heard that Abner had died at Hebron, he was shocked and all Israel became frightened. Two men who were captains in Saul's army came to Ish-Bosheth. One was named Baanah, and the other was named Recab. They were the sons of Rimmon of Beeroth, who was a Benjaminite. (The town Beeroth belonged to the tribe of Benjamin. The people of Beeroth ran away to Gittaim, and they still live there as foreigners today.)
(Saul's son Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both feet. He was five years old when the news came from Jezreel that Saul and Jonathan were dead. Mephibosheth's nurse had picked him up and run away. But as she hurried to leave, she dropped him, and now he was lame.)
Poor Mephibosheth. Not only did his parents give him an unpronounceable name, but in a tragic accident he was dropped as a child and made lame. A single moment of thoughtlessness and he was marred for life. Presumably the nurse thought she was doing the right thing. She was running away to save both herself and the child, but in her rush and panic she made a terrible mistake.
Will you find yourself rushing today? Trying to meet a deadline, pushed to get somewhere on time, or just with two many things to do, all demanding to be done at once? Panic and rush all too often lead to mistakes. Perhaps we are not likely to drop any children today, but often a word spoken too quickly and then regretted, or missing an opportunity to serve or thank another person are signs we are living in panic rather than peace.
Jesus told his disciples that he gave them his peace. Peace is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives. Peace marks out God's people in a world where pressure and panic all too often drive emotions and actions. Because we know our lives are in God's hands we can stand against pressure and panic and be people of peace. What will be driving you today? Pressure and panic, or God's peace?
God of peace, fill me with your Holy Spirit today. Please help me live in your peace despite the moments of pressure and panic this day might bring. Amen
Written by David Booker
