A Bucket of Mercy

A Bucket of Mercy

READ 1 Samuel 25:1-26:25

SITUATION As an outcast David lived by his wits in order to evade death at the hands of King Saul. During this time, David went to Nabal (a rich man he had aided in the past) for help. Nabal insulted David and his men, but God constrained David from killing Nabal. David then had an opportunity for the second time to kill Saul but respected his position instead.

OBSERVATION Saul finally recognized that David was destined to be the leader of Israel. Apparently Saul never again tried to interfere with God's will for the kingdom. (see 27:4)

INSPIRATION What do you do when people mistreat you or those you love? Does the fire of anger boil within you with leaping flames consuming your emotions? Or do you reach somewhere, to some source of cool water and pull out a bucket of mercy--to free yourself? Is there any emotion that imprisons the soul more than the unwillingness to forgive?

Don't get on the roller coaster of resentment and anger. You be the one who says, "Yes, he mistreated me, but I am going to be like Christ. I'll be the one who ways 'Forgive them, Father, they don't know what they're doing.'"

The first step toward forgiveness is to see the other person as a human being, not as a source of hurt. That's how God treated us with mercy--he became one of us, he felt as we feel, he understood our frustrations. And as a result, when he hung on the cross, he could look at those crucifying him and ask God to forgive them.

When you forgive someone, you are as close to God as you will ever be, because in that forgiveness you are demonstrating the very heart of God, the merciful King. If you want to understand God, if you want to draw closer to Him, then forgive someone today. (From "The Inspirational Bible, Forgiveness")

APPLICATION Because of our inherent self-centeredness, it is never easy to forgive some people, especially those who have hurt us deeply. To keep yourself from allowing a root of bitterness to take hold, forgive those who have hurt you. Ask the Lord to impress on you the grace he bestowed on you at Calvary.

EXPLORATION Forgiveness-- Matthew 6:9-15; 2 Corinthians 2:10-11; Ephesians 4:31-32; Colossians 3:12-14

The Devotional Bible -Experiencing the Heart of Jesus, Max Lucado General Editor, Thomas Nelson Publishers, New Century Version