As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king's sons. 2 Samuel 9:11

Mephibosheth is a type of every sinner saved by the grace of God in Christ. He was counted as one of the king's sons, sits at his table and eats as one, enjoying all the benefits of the king's grace and mercy. How we as believers rejoice as those who have received even greater mercies in Christ though by nature from an enemy family. Likewise, we were fetched to God by the Spirit of His grace. Though sin still dwells in us, and we are in that sense still "lame in both our feet," the King's table covers our lameness. We love to hear about this relationship and delight to be called the King's children. I wonder though, do we have any sense of the responsibility? As those who have been blessed by such grace, does the love of Christ constrain us in any way to conduct ourselves as such? Children of the King of glory, children of the living God, brought by sovereign grace and power to such an elevated position and state of glory? We know for sure that our conduct of life did not bring us to this position and neither does it maintain it. But does being in this state of justification by grace motivate us to seek to glorify the King in all we do? Does being His child by grace move us to obey His word? "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31) "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof." (Romans 13:14) Does my position as the King's child put me under a higher standard of conduct before this world? I think so. Dare we be a reproach to my heavenly Father! We are to "adorn the doctine of God our Savior in all things." "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;" (Titus 2:11-13) As John Gill says of this verse, "living unto righteousness, or in a righteous manner; and as being justified by the righteousness of Christ, revealed in the Gospel: and "godly"; in a godly manner, according to the Word of God, and agreeably to the will of God; and in all godly exercises, both public and private, and to the glory of God:"

Gary Shepard

THANKS BUT NO THANKS

Some time back one of the young children left me a stick up note on my pulpit chair as they sometimes do. It read, "Thanks for all you do. I probably will not be here Sunday." The humor and irony of it made me laugh. But the note also brought a verse of scripture to my mind in which God describes Israel. "They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence." ( 2 Kings 17:33) Among many who profess to believe on Christ and to love God there is great contradiction between what they say and what they actually do! They say they believe the doctrines of the gospel but they "serve their own gods." They say they love Christ but they "serve their own gods." They say the word, the worship and the people of God mean so much to them but they "serve their own gods." The truth is, where our treasures are, that's where our hearts are and where are hearts are, that's usually where our bodies are! (Luke 12:34) Listen to Paul's words in Colossians 3:1-4, "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." I pray that our note to Christ won't be, "Thanks for all you do. I probably won't be here Sunday!"

Gary Shepard

Christ our Lord is presented in the gospel as undivided in His offices. He is Prophet, Priest and King. The Father will not permit Him to be divided. Some would have Him as Savior but not as Sovereign. Some would have His teaching but not His atonement. Some would enjoy the crown but not the cross. My friend, it will be the complete Christ or no Christ. The gospel holds out no hope to the man who will not hear Him, be cleansed by His blood, and bow to him as Lord.

Henry Mahan

God writes with a pen that never blots, speaks with a tongue that never slips, and acts with a hand that never fails.

C.H. Spurgeon

The believer is perfect in Christ; but in himself he is a poor, feeble creature, ever liable to fall. Oh, the unspeakable blessedness of having One who can manage his affairs for him at the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens; One who upholds him always by His right hand; ONE WHO WILL NEVER LET HIM GO; One who is "the same yesterday, today and forever;" One who will bear him through all the difficulties and dangers which surround him and finally present him faultless before the presence of his glory with great joy. Blessed forever be the grace that has made such provision for all our need in the blood of a spotless victim and the intercession of a divine High Priest.

Scott Richardson

ALL THINGS DECREED

There's not a sparrow nor a worm

But's found in God's decrees;

He raises monarchs to their thrones,

And sinks them if He please.

If light attend the course I run,

'Tis He provides those rays;

And 'tis His hand that hides my sun,

If darkness clouds my days.

When He reveals the Book of Life,

O may I read my name

Among the chosen of His love,

The followers of the Lamb!

Isaac Watts

(Tune: Amazing Grace)

The gospel makes husbands better husbands, wives better wives, parents better parents, masters better masters and servants better servants; in a word, I would not give a farthing for that man's religion whose cat and dog were not the better for it.