Scripture

Our verse for today comes from 2 Samuel 18:29, ” The king said, ‘Is the young man Absalom safe?’ Ahimaaz answered, ‘When Joab sent the king’s servant and me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was about.’ “

Background

Today is a seminal day in the life of our family. Our eldest son, a few weeks beyond his sixteenth birthday, travels to London to spend a fortnight with my wife’s uncle. This being his first trip unaccompanied, and his first time on a plane that he can remember, and his first venture outside the country, the level of excitement and anxiety is immense. I am envious of his trip, having a strong desire myself to visit London, all of England, and the other northern European countries. I anticipate his i-Phone to be loaded with pictures, and I’ve strongly encouraged him to journal his trip as he goes. So when he returns, we will endeavor to relive his every memory as we view his pictures and hear his stories. But first, before the tales are told, and even as we anticipate communicating throughout his visit, we will first be occupied with one thing. Is the young man Ripken safe? Until his plane safely touches down, it is the only question that matters. Just as my other son helped a neighbor yesterday by sawing up a tree that had fallen in the storm, my only concern was, ” Is the young man Koy safe? ” Until his chainsaw was put away and I received his phone call, nothing else mattered.

Application

You and I, we don’t sit down and make out a list of things that we intend to care most about. We don’t bring an empty slate and systematically fill it with objects of our devotion and commitment. No, they burrow their way deep into our hearts with very little effort from us. Whether people or things, we love them and we desire them. We desire them and we love them. But with God, it’s a little different. He loved us first. He chose us when we would not have chosen Him. And there is no concern of safety. He can suffer no harm, and we cannot be lost. But distance can have an effect. Just like 3,860 miles will affect my wife and I these next fourteen days, distance between you and Christ will affect your devotion to the King. What will your heart be like two weeks from now?

Charge

As we seek Him today, use your time and your location, whenever you are, wherever you are, to draw closer to Jesus.

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words