Loving Others in Jesus

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. Our reading titled, Loving Others in Jesus, was written by Dave Brannon and read by Steven Taber. to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan's sake? Now there was a servant of Saul's household named Ziba. They summoned him to appear before David, and the king said to him, Are you Ziba?

At your service, he replied. The king asked, Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God's kindness? Ziba answered the king, There is still a son of Jonathan.

He is lame in both feet. Where is he? the king asked.

Ziba answered, He is at the house of Makir son of Amiel in Lodibar. So King David had been brought from Lodibar from the house of Makir son of Amiel. When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor. David said, Mephibosheth, at your service, he replied. Don't be afraid, David said to him, for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table. Mephibosheth bowed down and said, What is your servant that you should notice a dead dog like me? Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul's steward, and said to him, I have given your master's grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops so that your master's grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.

Noziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. There's a new game in high school sports, and it's one of the most uplifting things you'll ever experience. It has many of the same elements of a game known for cheering fans, referees, and a scoreboard.

But there's an essential twist. Each five-person team on the court consists of two non-disabled players and three players who have some form of disability. The activity on the court is heartwarming as players assist and courage and cheer for each other, no matter what team they're on.

The game is all about lifting up students who wouldn't otherwise experience the joy of competitive sports. It takes deliberate, wise leadership for schools to honor students in this way, and their efforts reflect an example set for us in Scripture by King David. A common saying in King David's day was that the blind and lame will not enter the palace, used metaphorically in reference to his enemies.

David, however, did choose to take Jonathan's son Mephibosheth, who had two lame feet, into his palace and honor him with a place to eat at his table. Paul presents a clear guideline for how we're to treat others in Romans 12, saying, Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other. Let's practice unified living, making sure to honor, in Jesus' love, everyone we encounter. Would you pray with me? Dear God, it's hard sometimes, and we struggle to show love and compassion to others, but this is exactly what you've called us to do. Please help us to show grace and kindness toward anyone who needs our love and care. Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. As you go about your day, reflect on these questions. How can you encourage the people in your sphere of influence? What does it mean for you to show honor to others?