so far
It's that time of year again and the holidays are [basically] here! In light of celebrating Thanksgiving this week, I’d like to share with you a piece of Scripture and insight that I read recently in Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed: A Study of David, in Beth Moore’s segment. These words spoken from a man after God’s own heart jolted my spirit to life in thankfulness and praise to the one who sustains us. “Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?” [2 Samuel 7:18] Picture this phrase being spoken by David right after God delivered him from his enemies and brought his family with him to a palace where they would live. All David wanted was to build God a temple, so that the Ark of the Lord (a gold-covered chest containing the Ten Commandments) could dwell in a physical building, instead of being moved from place to place in tents. As David expressed his desires to build God a temple, the prophet Nathan told him that one day David and his family would experience a different plan. “The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish His kingdom” [2 Samuel 7:11-12]. David was feeling humbled and filled with gratitude in this very moment, utterly amazed that God would have this unfathomable plan for him while the Ark of the Covenant lay merely in a tent. Who was David to live in a Kingdom given to him by the Lord and experience a blessed lineage? As far as David was concerned, God didn’t owe him anything. David understood that the Lord deserved the highest praise, and to David, a sinful human like himself didn’t deserve to be blessed so intently by his King. I have asked myself a similar question at times, “Who am I, Lord, that you have brought me this far?” I’ve certainly asked this while thinking back on my own salvation. I was just a twenty-year old doing all the things I shouldn’t be doing and looking for love in all the wrong places, when by His grace God opened my eyes to the majesty of who He is and His unconditional love for the whole world. I’m so glad that by His grace alone I was saved from myself and brought into a personal relationship with Christ. For those of us in Christ, we have Him to thank for this salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” While we haven’t necessarily been asked by God to live in a physical Kingdom, one day, as promised, we will live in His Heavenly Kingdom for eternity. Who are we that He chose to save us and let us dwell in His Kingdom for eternity? Who are we that He chose to die a gruesome death so we could be freed from the bondage of sin forever? He loved us at our darkest, and He will always love us. Who are we? Regardless of our sins, our regrets, our failures, and our pains, He gives us greater grace. We can thank Him for the grace of today, and we can look forward to the grace of tomorrow. Who are we, Lord, to receive this free and unmerited favor time and time again? Like David, you might find yourself perplexed at times and deeply moved by God’s ever moving hand in your life. You might be astonished by His grace and the creative ways in which He gives it. If you aren’t experiencing that in this very moment, rest assured that our faith isn’t determined by our feelings and emotions. Sometimes a little thankfulness can help turn our hearts back to the awestruck wonder of what He has already done for us and turn us back to the belief that there is still so much more to come!
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. [Philippians 4:6-7]
I’d love for us to sit in this humility and thankfulness as we enter this season of Thanksgiving. Let us reflect on all the ways He has come through for us, and be hopeful that in Christ alone our futures hold wonderful purpose and blessings. Thank you, Lord, for you grace. Thank you that it is new every morning. Thank you, Jesus, that because of You we have been saved, and we have come so far. How has God blessed you and brought you “so far”? What areas of your life can you continue to pray over and surrender to God so that one day you may look back on the “so far” work God has accomplished in you and your family? Let’s be sons and daughters of faith who believe our God can do great things in our hearts and in our lives. We want to believe we will look back even further down the road and proclaim: “Who am I, Lord, that you’ve brought me so far?!”
"How great you are, Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you.” [2 Samuel 7:22]