Wednesday, May 17, 2023
And David said to Abigail, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from avenging myself with my own hand! For as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, truly by morning there had not been left to Nabal so much as one male." Then David received from her hand what she had brought him. And he said to her, "Go up in peace to your house. See, I have obeyed your voice, and I have granted your petition." 1 Samuel 25:32-35
The Greatest Influence
Influence is such an important privilege. Today anyone who is on social media is an influencer and the world is their platform. As mothers we have to be more intentional than ever about what we allow our kids to be exposed to. If we are not the most important influence in their lives, Satan is waiting to fill that place in their lives. They will be influenced - make sure it is the voice of truth that makes the most impact in their lives. Mothers we have a privileged position of being in the center of many important relationships where we can spread godly influence in the lives of those we love.
Abigail was a woman in the Bible who knew how to use her influence and it served her well. Abigail was married to a man named Nabal. He was a horrible man, but she was kind, quick, and intelligent. It was Bible times so women had very little identity beyond their husbands. There was no such talk in town as Abigail is a wonderful, godly woman, but her husband is no good… The reputation of the whole household was riding on the reputation of the head of the household.
Abigail knew that she was the only one who could calm the storm that was about to come down on her family and servants. Previously David had shown generous hospitality to Nabal’s shepherds, but when David asked for food and shelter for him and his men, Nabal would not even acknowledge that he knew who David was. He was rude and obnoxious. David was angry and told his men to strap on their swords. Four hundred men plus David were headed to attack Nabal and all his household.
When one of the servants told Abigail what happened, she quickly gathered food and drink and sent it with the servants to meet David and his men. She followed but did not tell Nabal. She met David and bowed before him, asking for his pardon for her husband’s behavior and asked him to not attack their household. Many words were exchanged but long story short, David told Abigail "Go up in peace to your house. See, I have obeyed your voice, and I have granted your petition."
Nabal’s reputation was bad before this encounter with David, and this situation showed his true character, as well as hers. Abigail knew exactly what she had to do to save the day, and she did it. She used her influence wisely, and her beautiful character, opposite of her husband’s, was evident, and effective. Abigail used her influence that day, not only to save her household but also to prevent David from doing something he would regret, and in turn, she sealed her unforeseen future.
No doubt Abigail’s husband was a person that was hard to love, but sometimes God entrusts us with people to love that require extra grace, as we require extra grace at times too. Loving and influencing others, especially our families, cannot be about ourselves, for our own glory. It cannot even be about them; it has to be about loving and serving God. We cannot love or serve through the mud and muck of life in our human capacity, but we can through our Heavenly Father and His everlasting unconditional love. Sometimes the people we share our roof with are the hardest people to love, and if we cannot show them love, we will never be able to influence them.
For mothers, the most impressionable people in our lives are our children, by God’s design. Most of the time we are making impressions that we don’t even realize. It is a privilege and should be at the forefront of our minds so we can be aware of the life we lead out loud. We should be extra intentional while they pay attention to our influence. Someday they will not value our influence quite so much! Showing our children our true hearts, and loving and serving them unconditionally is the most powerful way to influence them. Making our faith in God evident and living out that faith before their eyes is the greatest influence we can have in their lives.
