From the Kitchen Table

And you know the way to where I am going.”

John 14:4          

Heaven isn’t a place we fall into; it’s a place we follow into to.  And this life isn’t about what we know, but who we know first and foremost.  Eternal life is knowing God (Jn 17:3).  Jesus said, “You know the way…” (Jn 14:4) and then said, “I am the way…” (Jn 14:6).

What we know is what we put our faith in.  We know something because of what we believe about something.  What we know about a person is what we believe about a person.  The Bible says that by faith we understand (Heb 11:3).  The first step toward the Spirit-filled life is know Jesus.  This means that we don’t just believe in a Jesus, but we believe Jesus and He determines then what we know about Jesus and from Jesus.

How well do you know Jesus?

There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? ³ When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.                    John 14:2-3

Here’s why you want to Spirit-filled life.  Jesus wants to be with you constantly.  That should be encouraging today as you walk though this day.  You don’t have to walk alone.  Jesus doesn’t want you to ever live alone, so He’ gone to prepare an eternal place for you and He’s already made sure there is room for you.  There has always been room for you in the heart and home of God, but He won’t make you live there.  Jesus has gone to prepare a place for you even if you don’t want to live there and He’s even got plans to come get you, if you want to join Hm. Until that time, He will send His Spirit to live in you until you go to live with Him.  I like these words, “I will come and get you…”  That’s His promise to you.  No matter where you go and what you do, Jesus will come get you the moment you call on Him.

What’s that mean to you?

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.”              John 14:1

It’s one thing to be troubled on the outside and another to be troubled on the inside.  The trouble on the outside can be resolved but trouble on the inside stays with you every step of the way.  Jesus says, “Let not your hearts be troubled…”  Start on the inside and you’ll overcome what’s on the outside.  We are spiritual beings having a human experience.  Life begins here.  We are spirit beings first and foremost and this spirit we are, comes from God who is.  It comes from God to live with God forever.  But we have a choice.  Jesus tells us to believe in God and to believe in Him.  Spiritual relationships are not formed by touch but by trust.  Don’t just believe in God, believe God.  Trouble exists where trust exits our hearts.  Trust in God today.  Trust what He has said and in what He has done.  His words are true.  Get ready for the Spirit-filled life by choosing today to trust in God’s revealed word. 

Who are you trusting today and how?

The Kitchen Table Devotional

David Day 131

And Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants these days who are breaking away from their masters. ¹¹ Shall I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers and give it to men who come from I do not know where?”

1 Samuel 25:10-11

When you’ve been on a long journey, it’s easy to be distracted by the little things.  David had come all this way, faced all those issues, and waited patiently for God to meet all his needs.  All those things develop character in the man or woman of God.  But it’s hard to overlook outright disrespect.  Nabal is just being Nabal; no one expected anything but his nasty response.  David’s about to let a nobody take down a somebody in the will of God for His people.  Don’t just let anybody decide what kind of somebody God wants you to be.  Don’t let the words of the ignorant make you arrogant.

The Kitchen Table Devotional

David Day 130

Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give whatever you have at hand to your servants and to your son David.’”

1 Samuel 25:8

If you want to be taken seriously, don’t send someone else to do your business.  Take care of your business, yourself.  It’s easy to turn down the help.  If it’s important to you, it’s important for you to do the work.  David will end up loading up and going anyway, so why not go the first time?  If it’s important for you, make the person important to you by talking to them yourself.  Just a thought.

The Kitchen Table Devotional

David Day 129

David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep. ⁵ So David sent ten young men. And David said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel, and go to Nabal and greet him in my name. ⁶ And thus you shall greet him: ​‘Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have

1 Samuel 25:4-6

It’s easier than you think to slip back into the mindset of the world around us.  God was David’s faithful provider, and yet it made sense to David that Nabal should care and provide for David’s men.  Why shouldn’t those who have share with those who don’t?  That might be God’s character, but that’s not necessarily God’s way.  David let his feelings rule over his faith.  He’s about to kill a man, act violently, and take what he wanted rather than receive what God had for him.   We must be aware of ourselves; it can look easier to play politics than pray, but God wants us to pray.

The Kitchen Table Devotional

David Day 128

Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. The woman was discerning and beautiful, but the man was harsh and badly behaved; he was a Calebite.

1 Samuel 25:3

There’s always more to the story than what meets the eye.  Abigail is one of the more in this story, and when David sees her, he’ll want her just like Nabal had done earlier.  Beauty is defined by what’s good.  Abigale was discerning, a huge word that means she had a good heart, a good mind, a good attitude, a good name & a good witness.  She’s able to move mountains because, obviously, people respect and revere her.  Good makes beauty beautiful.  How in the world did she end up with Nabal?  Maybe it’s because good people can see the possibilities and not just the problems.

The Kitchen Table Devotional

David Day 127

Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel; and the man was very rich, and he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats.

1 Samuel 25:2

Life isn’t that complicated if you’re simply observant.  There are times when you can see a storm brewing.  This is what’s happening here with David and Nabal.  A storm is brewing; grief and arrogance were about to meet, and they couldn’t see it.  Nothing is more offensive than injustice in the face of grief.  And nothing offends more than wealth in the face of arrogance.  There will be no prayer, only reaction to each other.  David has a right, Nabal has a point, violence is on the horizon, and only the mentally and emotionally intelligent can see it coming.  We can’t afford to forget about God at any turn in our lives.  We always need His discernment, direction, and dependability.  He will always deliver.

The Kitchen Table Devotional

David Day 126

Now Samuel died. And all Israel assembled and mourned for him, and they buried him in his house at Ramah.   Then David rose and went down to the wilderness of Paran.

1 Samuel 25:1-2

Life has a way of throwing us all sorts of curveballs, and death is one of those balls.  In this situation, Samuel, David’s mentor, prophet, and role model, has died.  He’s the one who first saw God’s call on David’s life.  Now what?  Who was left to vouch for David?  Who was there to interfere with King Saul’s dangerous depression?  We need spiritual mentors and ministers in our lives.  It’s easy to go backwards when you’re not following someone forward.  David and the nation of Israel are grieving Samuel’s death.  This is when you’re calling must be greater than the one who called you.  Grief can be a punch in the gut; lean into it, not away from it.  This is a time to seek God’s discernment & direction, not make our own decisions.  Feel the pain, don’t fret your plans.

The Kitchen Table Devotional

David Day 125

So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

1 Samuel 24:22

King Saul returned home, but David was still living rent-free in his head.  This is no time to let down your guard.  If a person hasn’t repented, taking responsibility for his or her actions, stay alert.  David and his men went back to the stronghold.  This isn’t about judgment but rather about discernment.  No false guilt here and no false guarantees.  King Saul was sorry he got caught and sorry for what all this might mean for his family, but he didn’t take responsibility for his actions or thoughts.  Until we take responsibility for our thoughts and actions, there we be no real repentance and restoration.  Know what you’re looking for from yourself and others.