Title: Where Is Your Loyalty?/Topic: First Love

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 18; Psalm 56; Matthew 27

Scripture: 2 Samuel 18:5, 14-15
5 The king commanded Joab, Abishai and Ittai, "Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake." And all the troops heard the king giving orders concerning Absalom to each of the commanders.

14 Joab said, "I'm not going to wait like this for you." So he took three javelins in his hand and plunged them into Absalom's heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree. 15 And ten of Joab's armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him and killed him.
Observation: Even though his son was trying to kill him and take his kingdom from him, David didn't want him harmed. But Joab knew that Absolom would only cause problems for the entire nation if he stayed alive. He had already divided the nation and led a rebellion against the king. If left alive, he would only continue to plot secretly against his father and subsequently bring destruction to their society as well. So he did what needed to be done. He dispensed the justice that Absolom deserved.

Application: If we let our emotions of love for an unworthy person (even our own children) override our principles that we know to be true and right, trouble will be sure to follow. This is why Jesus said that in comparison to loving God, we must be willing to “hate” our own family members if we are to be found worthy of the kingdom of God. He certainly wasn't proposing that we hate our families, only that we cannot choose our family over doing the right thing.

Prayer: Father, when the tests come in my life as to where my loyalties lie, may I always be found to have you in the first place in my heart.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.