Names are Listed

 DEVOTION

2^ND SAMUEL

 NAMES ARE LISTED

2 Sam 23:18-23

18 Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. 19 Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them. 20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, who performed great exploits. He struck down two of Moab's best men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. 21 And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear. 22 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty men. 23 He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

NIV

This is the account of two men who were not included in the three mighty men. However, they were still mighty in their own right as Abishai was the chief of the three, and he killed three hundred men, becoming as famous as the three. Then we also see that Benaiah was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, although he was not included in the Three. What do we do with these two men, who did mighty acts and were listed by name and given honor, as if they were in the hall of valor, as certain athletes are placed in some sports hall of fame? We have not performed any acts of valor that we should be exalted, or listed within some hall of fame, but then maybe we are listed in the hall of faith. Because we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior and we profess to believe God, we are listed in the Book of Life, and that is far greater than any hall of fame for acts of valor. Although it does take valor to stand our ground against the forces of this dark world, our valor is in Jesus. He fought the battle against evil and won, and as we are in Him, we too have already won the victory. There is victory in Jesus, my Savior forever. He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood, He loved me ere I knew Him, and all my love is due Him, He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood. It is all about the mighty act of valor Jesus did for us. Yet, within that valor was pure humility, and there lies our lesson. Although we have been given the victory by our Savior Jesus, and we have the right to be called children of God, we also need to learn from Jesus, as He is gentle and humble of heart. So then, rather than think of ourselves as being exalted, although God has exalted us, we should be gentle and humble of heart, knowing that it is because of Jesus that we are in the Book of Life, the Hall of eternity. He calls us by name as our names are listed.