Day of Praise

Fri, 10/12/18, "Day of Praise"

"But that is not what God desires; rather, he devises ways so that a banished person does not remain banished from him." - 2 Samuel 14:14

It doesn't matter who said it. They are wise words indeed, "God...devises ways so that a banished person does not remain banished from him." - 2 Samuel 14:14

As it was, the wise woman from Tekoa said those words. But she was instructed by wise Joab to say those words. And we would be wise to have such words on the tips of our tongues too.

For such wisdom is a major blessing of the Living God.

Because of sin, we were estranged from God, banished from God's kingdom and presence.

But God devised a way so that we banished people do not remain banished from God.

Jesus is The Way (John 14:6).

As Absalom was estranged because of his sin, an enemy of King David, but worse, we were estranged because of sin, an enemy of the King, our God.

But the good news is that God devised a way for us enemies of God through the cross and resurrection of Jesus; we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son (Romans 5:10).

And then he sent us, in the strength of the risen Christ, to do the same (2 Corinthians 5:18).

Is someone "banished" from your life? Kept at arms length because they hurt you? Humble yourself, and ask God for wisdom to be reconciled. It will probably take time and patience, but, through Jesus, God has devised The Way.

Praise God!


Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson