Sun.’s Devo - Christ in Us, the Hope of Glory

Read: 2 Samuel 13:1-39; John 17:1-26; Psalm 119:81-96; Proverbs 16:6-7 David had six sons when he lived in Hebron, all from different wives. The first was Amnon and the third was Absalom. Absalom’s mother was the daughter of a Syrian king from Geshur. David also had a beautiful daughter with Absalom’s mother, Maacah. The daughter’s name was Tamar. *** Amnon was obsessed with Tamar and didn’t know what to do. He had a crafty cousin named Jonadab who told him how to connive and steal some time with Tamar. He told Amnon to fake sickness and ask if Tamar could come and cook his favorite meal. David allowed her to go but after she had prepared his food, Amnon forced himself on her and raped her. Then he kicked her out and was abhorred by her. *** David and Absalom knew what had happened. David did nothing, but Absalom plotted revenge. Two years later, Absalom asked David if he and his sons could come to his sheep shearing party. David was too busy so Absalom specifically asked if Amnon could come. David must have smelled a rat, because he wanted to know why he wanted just Amnon to come. As a precaution, David sent all his sons thinking Absalom wouldn’t do anything with all of them there. Absalom ordered his men to kill Amnon once he had gotten good and drunk. The other sons fled back to David. *** David had received news that all his sons were killed but then was told by Jonadab that only Amnon was killed. Jonadab was Amnon’s friend who had plotted his meeting with Tamar. He had known his plot against Amnon so I wonder if he wasn’t in on it too. *** All of David’s sons came home sobbing and David mourned many days for his son Ammon. Absalom fled to his grandfather’s house in Geshur. Geshur means “proud beholder”. That could describe Absalom to a tee. He was a proud beholder of himself. *** John 17 is Jesus prayer he prayed in the ears of his disciples. He prayed that God would be glorified through him. God had given Jesus power over all flesh to give eternal life to the ones God had given him. Eternal life was given to those who knew God and Jesus…BOTH of them. There is only one way to the Father and that is through Jesus Christ. *** Jesus was praying for the ones that God had given him and for us who were to come. Jesus was glorified in them as he is glorified in us. Jesus prayed that all who were his would be one, just like he and the Father are one. Jesus prayed that God would protect them from the evil one as He had protected Jesus from Satan. We are not of this world just as Jesus was not of this world. Our citizenship is with God in his kingdom. *** Jesus last words of his prayer were that we have the same love that He had because He would be in us. How can we not prosper in all things? *** Lord, it is amazing the plan you have for your children. May you be glorified in us and in our lives. May we experience your love and live your love. May we allow you to live through us today.