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Devotions

When an individual gets things right with God, he should likewise look for opportunities to make things right with others he might have done wrong.
Scripture provides examples of specific sins; however, no example DEFINES sin. John's first epistle defines it as the transgression of the law.
Life is cyclical. Many of the physical challenges experienced by young children will once again be encountered by those who live long enough. As a person ages, many things taken for granted long ago in the prime of life begin to deteriorate. For instance, the Bible says that Israel’s eyes “were dim for age” (Genesis 48:10), Barzillai’s hearing and taste buds were ill affected (2 Samuel 19:34-35), and David “gat no heat” (1 Kings 1:1) as he grew old. For these reasons and others, the Bible emphasizes that aged saints are “old and well stricken in age” (Genesis 18:11). In other words, the passing of time or the coming of age strikes the physical well-being of the body and its physical and mental functions. This physical and mental degeneration is the fulfillment of the cycle of life as the body prepares to return to the dust from whence it originally came (Ecclesiastes 12:7).
The Bible records Jonathan and David's strikingly close friendship like that of siblings. Regardless of this cherished relationship, Jonathan's father, king Saul, feared and despised David. Both king Saul and his son died during battle, thus paving the way for David to ascend to the throne of Israel. Once David became king, he sought for an opportunity to show kindness to any of Jonathan’s remaining family members. After searching through the land, it was discovered that Saul and Jonathan had one remaining descendent (Mephibosheth). David sent for Mephibosheth and told him his intentions of showing him the kindness normally reserved for a member of the king's family. This act of kindness included the restoration of his family’s property. David’s kindness also made provision for Mephibosheth to eat at the king’s table (2 Samuel 9:7), “as one of the king’s sons” (2 Samuel 9:11). David’s kindness meant that Mephibosheth would be viewed and treated as a son. This demonstration of kindness illustrates God's act of kindness toward His beloved children through Christ Jesus.