BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

I hooked up the chain, put Pepe in four-wheel drive and stomped on the gas. Pepe’s front tires popped up, and the back tires spun. Then, suddenly that car shot out of the ditch. To my surprise, the women were put out with me! I told the driver, “We’re going to go to the next stop about five miles ahead. There’s a gas station there. As long as you keep your car driving in my tracks, you’ll make it. There you can call for help. But I can’t leave you here.” Reluctantly, they agreed. When I got back into my Jeep®, Vickie asked me what had happened. “ Oh, I was just helping out some church members.” I said, “They don’t go to our church, but I guarantee they go to church.” How did I know? Over the years, I’ve seen many people stuck in ditches—financial, marital, spiritual, health—and every time God directs me to help them, they say, “No, Pastor! We’ll be fine!” It’s time to let the Lord help us get out of our ditches—because He wants to restore His people! Reacting Like Mephibosheth Even though we know God wants to help and restore us, we often resist. That’s not so different from what Saul’s grandson, Mephibosheth, did in 2 Samuel 9:1-4: "And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake? And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he. And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet. And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar." In those days, a disability meant a life of poverty. Mephibosheth was destined to be a beggar. Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar. Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant! And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am? (verses 5-8). Read that passage again. The king called Mephibosheth and told him four important things. He said: • “Fear not.” • “You’re going to eat at my table.” • “I’m restoring everything to you that belonged to your grandpa.” (And that’s pretty good when your grandpa was the king!) • “I’m restoring all that to you for your dad’s sake and my covenant with him.” But now, read how Mephibosheth responded. He asked, “Why would you do this for a dead dog like me?” This is a picture of where many in the Body of Christ are today. We’re related to royalty and have great favor—not because of who we are, but because we’re in Christ. But when God is ready to restore us, we react like Mephibosheth. We say, “Who am I that You’d look on a dead dog like me?” I’ve Been That Dead Dog The first time I read that verse, it hammered me. I grew up in a small town and my family was really poor! I can tell you there’s nothing good about being poor. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Watch Mark on BVOVN * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 24 : BVOV

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