Scripture

Our verse for today comes from 2 Samuel 15:18, ” And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who had followed him from Gath, passed before the king. ” 

Background

When I was a lad, we went to a small country church a few miles outside of town. It looked very much like you would imagine a church surrounded by dairy farms to look, except it did have a newer building added on to it for Sunday school classes. The parking lot was gravel, the cemetery was adjacent to it, and two crab apple trees grew on either side of the front walk. And although we left that church some thirty-five years ago, I can still vividly recall particulars about the faces and events that I encountered those Sunday mornings and evenings. One recurring event happened every Sunday morning. You see, there was one main entrance into the sanctuary, and it was the double doors that you went through to enter the church. At the end of each service, everyone would file out, headed to their cars. And waiting for them, and me, was the pastor. He would be standing by the doors, at the top of the stairs, greeting each person and shaking their hand. Now, for an eight or ten year-old kid, at least this eight or ten year-old, speaking to and shaking the hand of an adult was three long seconds of agony. Every Sunday I was excited when the service was over, but the fun couldn’t begin until I got past the pastor. 

Application

When David left Jerusalem just before Absalom’s takeover, he led his people to the outskirts of town. There, he stopped and let each person accompanying him pass by, greeting each one as they made their way towards the brook. When Ittai approached, David was shocked that he was coming. Ittai was an exile who had arrived only a day earlier, so David urged him to stay rather than embark on another journey of uncertain fleeing. But Ittai was undeterred, vowing to follow David in life or death. Chances are that you have been following Jesus for more than a day. And whether you realize it or not, He’s there to greet you each day. How undeterred are you to follow Him? How much are you looking forward to His handshake? How surprised will He be to see you? 

Charge

As we seek Him today, ask God to make Himself more apparent to you in the everyday-ness of your day. Look for Him in places and times where you have not seen Him before. 

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words