Do Not Remain an Outcast

Daily Reading: 2 Samuel 14

Scripture Focus: We must all die; we are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God will not take away life, and he devises means so that the banished one will not remain an outcast. (2 Samuel 14.14)

Devotional Thought: An unnamed woman from Tekoa, came before King David to plead for the return of Absalom. The wisdom of her words is appropriate for all ages.

We must all die. The Bible says that it is appointed unto man once to die. With the sin of Adam, death came into that beautiful garden. Ever since that invasion, all people who live have also died – or they face an inevitable death in the future. There are two scriptural exceptions to this: Enoch who walked with God and was no more, and Elijah who ascended into heaven on a chariot of fire. None of us can claim to be an Enoch or an Elijah. Even Jesus himself, experienced death.

Physical death is final. Just as spilled water cannot be gathered up again from the ground, so life that is spilled out cannot be gathered again into the physical body. There is coming a resurrection in which we will be given new bodies, but the Bible says the “plant” that comes (the heavenly resurrection body) is different from the “seed” that is sown (the earthly physical body) in burial. I have stood at many graves, laying to rest the final remains of saints who have died. There is no hope for those remains to be reanimated, but there is a greater hope!

God’s grace goes beyond the curse of death. Two thousand years ago, Jesus defeated death and sin on an old rugged cross. Death is not our master. It is not our destiny. We are no longer outcasts, for God has devised a means to bring banished souls back. Praise the Lord!

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, thank you that we are no longer outcasts. Your Son, Jesus, is the firstborn from the dead, and because of his death and resurrection, our sins are forgiven and we have been given life - eternal life! Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 104.10-15

10 You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills; 11 they give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. 12 Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches. 13 From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.

14 You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth 15 and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man's heart.