There was a kid in my class who was mentally handicapped and I was too immature to accept that. I had a pack of skittles during study hall and with all of my friends around, I asked the kid, whose name was Dustin, to pick a color as I showed a green and a purple in my hand. Thinking I was offering him one, he picked green. I then proceeded to quickly pick up the green skittle and toss into my mouth and selfishly enjoyed the deliciousness that is always in a green skittle. Then I heard my name screamed from across the room. The teacher saw the whole thing. As my friends all laughed at me, I was quickly kicked out and about three minutes later, was sitting right outside the principal’s office. Welcome to my world.
Handicapped people, whether physical or mental, are almost always picked on. In my case, I wasn’t trying to pick on Dustin but it was perceived that I was. Back in biblical times, crippled people were treated as scum or bums on the street. Society looked at them with no value and decided that they make no economical or social contributions to society (it’s amazing how much doesn’t change over the years).
In 2 Samuel, we meet Mephibosheth (Mephibo-who?), Mephibosheth, a crippled man. But he wasn’t just any crippled man, he was Jonathan’s son. But more importantly, he was Saul’s grandson. David was king of Israel during this time and he wanted to know if there were any descendants of Jonathan left. This was because he made a promise to Jonathan to take care of his family if he died. David’s officials found Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth feared for his life when he found out the king wanted to see him. He feared him because he was crippled and had absolutely no business being in the king’s presence. He also feared him because he was Saul’s grandson and he thought David was going to kill him because of it (back then, you were to kill off your enemy’s entire lineage). But instead, Mephibosheth found out that David wanted to give him his grandfather’s pension—the estate, servants and riches. But most importantly, he got a ticket to David’s unlimited dinner buffet every night.
That’s how God treats us. We’re all crippled because of our sins (Romans 3:23), and because of that, we deserve death (Romans 6:23). But God, like David did with Mephibosheth, loved us because of a promise He made with Jesus Christ (Romans 5:8). Jesus Christ died for our sins so that one day, we can eat at God’s dinner buffet every night in heaven (John 3:16). All you have to do as a crippled is confess with your mouth that you are spiritually crippled and believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died you’re your sins and you will be saved.
Jesus, I’m crippled. And I can’t walk on my own. I have sinned against You and that keeps me from knowing You and I’m sorry. I believe You sent your Son, Jesus Christ, to die in my place and He’s the only way to get to You. I ask that You that save me from death and I invite You, Jesus, into my heart to be my Lord and personal Savior. Amen.
-NW
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