Do you find it difficult reading the Old Testament?  Books like Samuel, Kings and Chronicles?  I used to feel that way until I decided to spend more time in the Old Testament neighborhood.  Not avoiding it, but roaming down some back alleys and darkened corners.  Even dusting off my old Princeton Seminary Hebrew language texts!

Today I was reading 2 Samuel 14:14–‘But God does not take away life; instead, He devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from Him.’  What a great verse.  The context is King David estranged from his son Absalom.  Others mount an effort at reconciliation between father and son.  It seems to me that there’s a larger issue to deal with in this verse.  Beyond the familial one, we have our need to be reconciled to God.  ‘…not remain estranged from Him.’

Being reconciled to God.  Peace with God.  What we all long for.  Not only for ourselves.  We agonize over family who do not know Jesus.  Who have not experienced reconciliation with the Lord.  Salvation.  It hurts personally as I realize that my own witness for Jesus has been so poor and ineffective.  Have I done my best?  I only wish.

2 Samuel 14:14 gives me great hope.  I’m not off the hook.  Neither are you.  We must share the Lord Jesus with our own.  But what’s paramount is not my effort, but God’s.  This verse says that God never, ever stops searching for ways to reach people.  He’s ‘devising ways’.  Never stops seeking a way in.  Never stops reaching out.  Never stops knocking on the doors of hearts.  Never.

You can depend on it.  No, HE is the One we can depend on.  Something you can hang your hat on!  We’re not off the hook.  Pray…share.   But know that the Lord works in all kinds of ways to bring our loved ones to Him.  Thank you, Lord!  Thank you…

Prayer:  Dear God, we praise you for loving our loved ones even more than we do.  We pray that each one will come to know your Son Jesus for salvation.  Each and every one.  In His name.  Amen.