Posted December 15, 2024

Have you ever known someone who always seemed to have the kind of “favor” that gets them into the right places, meeting the right people, walking into the right door at the right time? Who knows the owner of the dealership so they can get you a discount? Whose neighbor is an alumnus of the University and can get you tickets to the big game?

King David was a man after God’s own heart. He was the youngest of his father Jesse’s sons, the baby brother who actually preferred spending time alone with his flocks of sheep. David was a fearless shepherd boy. “David grew up strong and brave, not afraid of the wild beasts which prowled around and tried to carry away his sheep. More than once he fought with and killed lions and bears. And David, alone all day, practiced throwing stones in a sling, until he could strike exactly the place for which he aimed (Goliath never had a chance!) (https://biblehub.com The Story of David, the Shepherd Boy). He watched over the sheep and wrote songs and poems about the goodness of the Lord. And David found favor with the Lord: “I have found in David the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all my will” (Acts 13:22 AMP). 

God chose David to be king of Israel. David was not perfect; he made mistakes, but he never forgot how great the Lord God is. He continually worshipped the Lord, playing his harp, writing poems and singing praises. Even though he was not perfect, God showed David mercy. God also held back anger and destruction from David’s descendants, all because of David. “He shows unfailing love to His anointed, to David and his descendants forever” [Psalm 18:50 NIV]. God’s most precious gift to the world, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the cherished descendant of King David. Verse 23 of Acts 13 says, “Of this man's offspring, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as He promised.” The Lord Jesus Christ came to fulfill God’s promise of mercy and salvation to us. Revelation 22:16 reads, “I, Jesus, am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star”(NASB). 

In this Season, we honor and celebrate the entrance of the Savior into the world. Jesus is God in flesh, who came through the lineage of King David, a man after God’s own heart. With Jesus, we also receive the mercy that the Lord promised to those of the household of David, forever. Did you know that Jesus is also called Immanuel? “El” meaning “Almighty God”. “Immanu” meaning “with us”. How comforting to know that our awesome God, loving Father, the Creator of the universe, is forever with us. With Jesus, we become successful in all things. WE can count on “who” we know. Jesus is with us to help us, to turn things around for us, to make good things happen for us. Who wouldn’t want the Son of God in their life, on their side, standing up for them when they don’t get everything right? THAT’S what Jesus would do, will do, Has done, for You! We have this promise of Grace and Mercy, available to us all, in the promise and person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus did not come to condemn, to judge or to find fault, as some believe. When the Lord Jesus Christ is with you, good things will happen for you, in you, around you, and through you. Expect it!