Truthful Tuesday: Blessed to Bless - Denise Pass
by | Jun 30, 2015 | 1 Samuel, Believers, Body of Christ, Chosen, Christian, Christian Encouragement, Christianity, Church, culture, Deeds, Discipline, Education, Ethics, Finances, God, Healing, Human Rights, inspiration, Israelites, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jewish, Joyful living, Kindness, knowing God, materialism, Matters, Mental Health, Ministry, Money, Moral, parenting, Perspective, Philosophy, Planning, Plans, Political, Positive Thinking, Principles, Promises, Recovery, Relationship, Resolutions, Spiritual, Teaching, Uncategorized, Victorious Christian Living, Worldview |
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2 Sam 5:12
“David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and that he had elevated his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.”
2 Sam 7:8, 18-22
“So now, say this to my servant David: ‘This is what the LORD of hosts says: I took you from the pasture and from your work as a shepherd to make you leader of my people Israel. 18 King David went in, sat before the LORD, and said, “Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my family, that you should have brought me to this point? 19 And you didn’t stop there, O LORD God! You have also spoken about the future of your servant’s family. Is this your usual way of dealing with men, O LORD God? 20 What more can David say to you? You have given your servant special recognition, O LORD God! 21 For the sake of your promise and according to your purpose you have done this great thing in order to reveal it to your servant. 22 Therefore you are great, O LORD God, for there is none like you! There is no God besides you! What we have heard is true!”
Overcome by God’s goodness, David poured out his heart in a moment of beautiful abandon. He recognized God’s blessings and realized that he was not worthy. His response was so beautiful – worship in action. He dedicated to God fully what was given to Him, ruled in humility and righteousness, showing favor and honoring even his former enemy’s crippled son, Mephibosheth. Ultimately, he saw that God’s blessing was not for Him, but for God’s people, Israel.
He was wealthy and in the highest position of the land, but he chose to identify with and respect the lowly. Sounds a lot like his Heavenly Father. Demonstrating kindness and mercy, God honored David further, providing protection, favor and victory everywhere he went.
It’s a funny thing about blessing. When we give away what we are given, we receive even more because we cannot out give God. Do we perceive all that He has done for us? Probably impossible to do so, but contemplate for a minute the gift of life and what He has given us. Once we begin to see a glimpse of what He has bestowed upon us physically and spiritually, the key is not only in recognizing all of the blessings in our lives, but in not expecting them.
David had already learned the lesson that God was Holy and although He loves us, we should not take for granted His favor and become casual with His requirements. The ark of God was not a trinket to be handled and God’s presence not something to be casual with, either.
What we have was not ours in the first place, but hanging onto those blessings is where idolatry can slip in if we let it. Each blessing, once acknowledged, becomes even more when it is surrendered back to God to be used how He sees fit. Along with David, we have an opportunity to see that what we are given is not about us at all, but about those who God brings along our path.
David knew all too well what hardship was, which also produced a sincere gratitude for the tremendous blessings God brought about. When we remember what we were when He called us, that makes us all the more grateful for each blessing He has bestowed; a beautiful offering given back to the One Who gave it to us in the first place.
