Today's readings are 1 Samuel 20.1-23 and Acts 2.16-31.
Sometimes we simply don't know what to make of the situations we find ourselves in. Jonathan is in one of these situations today in 1 Samuel 20. As far as he knew, his friend David was safe and secure in the king's favor. Yet all of a sudden David is trying to hide, acting like a refugee. What could be wrong? Jonathan is perplexed, maybe even a little frightened. After all, he, the king's son, has a high regard for David. He even seems to see David as the natural successor to the throne.
When we find ourselves in such a position, we can learn from Jonathan's actions. Is there someone we trust who might know what's happening? Maybe we can talk with the person who seems to have begun behaving in an odd manner. Then again, maybe we find ourselves in a position like David's. It could be that nobody is trying to kill us, but we may be the target of some unfair accusations. If that is the case, it is probably our responsibility to keep matters as private as possible as long as possible.
I recall a time of turmoil in my professional life when I found myself in both of these positions numerous times. When I was catching wind of a damaging and divisive situation I first took opportunity to talk with people who seemed to be trying to hide. I spoke with them privately and found out some of what was happening to them. Shortly afterward, when I was feeling like hiding myself, a fellow employee sought me out. She had no idea anything was going on. I told her I thought that was good, as we were trying to keep the turmoil as private as possible.
In the final analysis, we all sought to put our trust in the Lord. We knew that there was no temptation, no trouble we faced, which was not familiar to Jesus, who was tempted in every way as we are, but without sin. We knew that there was no sin that we had committed or that was committed against us that was not fully atoned for by our Lord. We knew that even if those who sinned against us never sought forgiveness (which is the case to this day, a decade later), we had acted in every way within our power to pursue peace, had sought forgiveness for our failings, and had individually forgiven those who had sinned against us, even without their transacting forgiveness with us.
Knowing the forgiveness that is in Christ is a wonderful encouragement. In this world, full of sin and seemingly devoid of repentance and forgiveness, at least individually we can determine to seek God's forgiveness, to seek to transact forgiveness with those we have sinned against, and find attitudinal forgiveness toward those who have sinned against us. We can avoid the temptation to make the sins of others public, seeking their good as well.
Lord of all forgiveness, make us like you.
Sometimes we simply don't know what to make of the situations we find ourselves in. Jonathan is in one of these situations today in 1 Samuel 20. As far as he knew, his friend David was safe and secure in the king's favor. Yet all of a sudden David is trying to hide, acting like a refugee. What could be wrong? Jonathan is perplexed, maybe even a little frightened. After all, he, the king's son, has a high regard for David. He even seems to see David as the natural successor to the throne.
When we find ourselves in such a position, we can learn from Jonathan's actions. Is there someone we trust who might know what's happening? Maybe we can talk with the person who seems to have begun behaving in an odd manner. Then again, maybe we find ourselves in a position like David's. It could be that nobody is trying to kill us, but we may be the target of some unfair accusations. If that is the case, it is probably our responsibility to keep matters as private as possible as long as possible.
I recall a time of turmoil in my professional life when I found myself in both of these positions numerous times. When I was catching wind of a damaging and divisive situation I first took opportunity to talk with people who seemed to be trying to hide. I spoke with them privately and found out some of what was happening to them. Shortly afterward, when I was feeling like hiding myself, a fellow employee sought me out. She had no idea anything was going on. I told her I thought that was good, as we were trying to keep the turmoil as private as possible.
In the final analysis, we all sought to put our trust in the Lord. We knew that there was no temptation, no trouble we faced, which was not familiar to Jesus, who was tempted in every way as we are, but without sin. We knew that there was no sin that we had committed or that was committed against us that was not fully atoned for by our Lord. We knew that even if those who sinned against us never sought forgiveness (which is the case to this day, a decade later), we had acted in every way within our power to pursue peace, had sought forgiveness for our failings, and had individually forgiven those who had sinned against us, even without their transacting forgiveness with us.
Knowing the forgiveness that is in Christ is a wonderful encouragement. In this world, full of sin and seemingly devoid of repentance and forgiveness, at least individually we can determine to seek God's forgiveness, to seek to transact forgiveness with those we have sinned against, and find attitudinal forgiveness toward those who have sinned against us. We can avoid the temptation to make the sins of others public, seeking their good as well.
Lord of all forgiveness, make us like you.
--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment