From Lo-Debar to Jerusalem

The other night, as I was resting and preparing for bed, I heard the Lord speak one word, "Mephibosheth." It shook my spirit as it has been a while since I had read about the story of Mephibosheth, but knew enough off hand to know this was the story of Jonathan's crippled son. As I began to seek God about this Word and the "burden" I was feeling, the Lord shared a Word with me that I'd like to share with you now and over the course of the next few newsletters. But first, allow me to give you a brief background on the story of Mephibosheth.

According to 2 Samuel 4, Mephibosheth was in the care of his nurse when word came that both his father, Jonathan, and his grandfather, Saul, were slain at Jezreel. The calamity and fear of the on sweep of the Philistines incited terror in Mephibosheth's nurse resulting in her fleeing while carrying him. She fell and consequently Mephibosheth was left permanently lame. They fled to Lo-Debar where Mephibosheth remained until King David, upon learning of his existence, sent for him. Mephibosheth left Lo-Debar at the response to the king's call where he then resided in Jerusalem for 17 years and was a daily guest at the king's table because of the covenant David had with Jonathan.

In reading and studying this text, there are so many truths within this text that scream at me; the temptation for me is to exegete the text. However, the current assignment is in relaying to you the burden the Lord gave me concerning the body of Christ in hopes of bringing edification. The more I sought God about this and the more I pondered, the heavier the "burden" became; The body of Christ has been functioning numb! Understand beloved that numbness is one of the characteristics of crippled conditions. The Church by in large has been functioning crippled and has presented a "dwarf church" which has been dwelling in a place that is not equipped to bring fruit or advancement; a spiritual Lo-Debar. Please note that while the Hebrew texts for Lo-Debar means "no word," the book of Amos adds new vowels making the meaning of the word "a place of nothing" or "not a pasture." But God is sending forth a clarion call to shift the Church out of their place of Lo-Debar into their place of Jerusalem.

Beloved, you are being summoned from a dry place, an unproductive place, a place of numbness to a place of peace, a place where the spirit of God rests, a place where you can receive streams of living water. No longer can you dwell in “a place of nothing.” But God is calling for a shifting to happen. Your “chronos” and “kairos” has made a collision which results in a jolting and an awakening where you “come to yourself” and realize Lo-Debar is not where you belong. The call has gone forth. But the response to the call is the beginning of the shift that is needed.

Reconciliation and The Blood

During this season, we are mindful of lent as we commemorate the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We collectively come together to celebrate the redemption of the shed blood on Calvary. As the songwriter sings..."It reaches the highest mountain, and it flows to the lowest valley. The blood that gives me strength from day to day. It will never lose its power."  How can this be? How can the blood have power, the "dunamis" power that transcends any disease, any pain, or any sin? It even speaks on a frequency that human ears can't detect. Understand that blood is the highest acceptable sacrifice because it is the spirit of life. The essence of all life is in the blood. It is the only visible element of the human being that transcends time and space. There is no part of the body that is untouched by it. It is the only moving tissue in the body and it communicates to every other part of the body. It serves as the body's intelligent and alert system. Now I understand why the Word says in John 1:14 that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us... IT WAS MET WITH THE BLOOD! According to Hebrews 4:12 - The Word is living and active, sharper than any double edged sword! Through the blood, we are then reconciled back to God thus making us ministers of reconciliation according to 2 Corinthians 5.  Holman Pocket Bible Dictionary says that reconciliation is "bringing together of two parties that are estranged or in dispute. Jesus Christ is the one who brings together God and man, with salvation as the result of the union. Several themes are essential to a biblical understanding of reconciliation. First is a recognition of the need for reconciliation (Rom 5:10; Eph 2:12; Col 1:21). Sin has created the separation and alienation between God and man. Reconciliation assumes there is a need for separation to be bridged and for God and humanity to be restored in right relationship. Second, God is the Reconciler; reconciliation is His work. The incarnation is God's declaration that the initiative for reconciliation resides exclusively with Him (2 Cor 5:19). Third, the death of Jesus Christ is the means by which God accomplishes reconciliation (Rom 5:10). Fourth, reconciliation is a completed work but is still being fulfilled. Although the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ has already procured reconciliation, human beings still receive God's reconciling work and gracious gift by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Fifth, the divine human act of reconciliation serves as the basis for authentic person-to-person reconciliation. Finally, God's reconciling work is in large measure the ministry of the church. In this sense reconciliation is not only a reality of life for believers, but it is also a purpose of their kingdom ministry" (Holman, 301).

With this understanding in mind, we know that the blood of Jesus is able to go deeper and lower than any other person can go, and can reach further than any other arm can reach. The process of reconciliation is in the journey of returning to the Lord. My challenge to you is simple yet thought provoking. What could possibly be causing distance between you and Jesus? What is standing in your way of experiencing the reconciling power of God in its fullness? Maybe it is a lack of trust. Or maybe it is a secret that you have never uttered. Maybe it is fear. Or it could even be sin. Whatever it is, or shall I say whomever is standing in between you and Jesus is delaying (though not denying) your reconciling process. The Spirit of the Lord is beckoning you right now to return. I hear the voice of God whispering in this very moment saying "return to your first love." It's in that moment, while receiving the pure love of Jesus that He can fill any void, heal any hurt, and reconcile you back into a perfected relationship with Him.