Loving Others in Jesus
There’s a new game in high school sports, and it’s one of the most uplifting things you’ll ever experience.
It has many of the same elements of a game known for cheering fans, referees, and a scoreboard. But there’s an essential twist: Each five-person team on the court consists of two nondisabled players and three players who have some form of disability. The activity on the court is heartwarming as players assist, encourage, and cheer for each other—no matter what team they’re on. The game is all about lifting up students who wouldn’t otherwise experience the joy of competitive sports.
It takes deliberate, wise leadership for schools to honor students in this way. And their efforts reflect an example set for us in Scripture by King David.
A common saying in David’s day was that “the ‘blind and lame’ will not enter the palace” (2 Samuel 5:8)—used metaphorically in reference to his enemies. David, however, did choose to take Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth, who had two lame feet, into his palace and honor him with a place to “eat at [his] table” (9:7).
Paul presents a clear guideline for how we’re to treat others. “Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other” (Romans 12:10 nlt).
Let’s practice unified living—making sure to honor, in Jesus’ love, everyone we encounter.
By Dave Branon- Bread Ministries
2 Samuel 9:1-10 (NIV)
David and Mephibosheth
9 David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
2 Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba. They summoned him to appear before David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”
“At your service,” he replied.
3 The king asked, “Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?”
Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet.”
4 “Where is he?” the king asked.
Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.”
5 So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel.
6 When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor.
David said, “Mephibosheth!”
“At your service,” he replied.
7 “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”
8 Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?”
9 Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s steward, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)
