05/28/2026
SUNDAY'S SERMON SUMMARY with 5 DAY DEVOTION.
Click the link for the video & teaching notes.
Howdy Fellowship Family & Friends!
I hope this message finds you well as we reflect on this Memorial Day weekend, remembering those who sacrificed for our freedom.
This week's sermon explored the story of Absalom from 2 Samuel 13-14, examining how he came "halfway home"—physically close to his father King David, but was relationally distant. This ancient narrative speaks powerfully to our modern spiritual condition, challenging us to examine whether we're merely going through religious motions while remaining far from God in our hearts. The sermon reminded us that we can attend church, read the Bible, and be around God's people, yet still be distant in our relationship with Him. Just as Absalom couldn't restore himself to his father, we cannot restore ourselves to God through our own efforts—we need the grace that comes through Jesus Christ.
Takeaways:
Forgiven sin restores relationships, but may still leave scars. David's forgiveness from God didn't erase the consequences of his actions, reminding us that while God's mercy is complete, our choices have lasting effects on ourselves and others.
Outward appearance doesn't equal inward righteousness. Absalom was described as flawless in physical beauty, yet his heart was filled with pride and revenge. We must beware of finding our identity, hope, and purpose in external things rather than in our Creator.
God devised a plan so the banished don't remain banished. At the cross, we see both God's justice upheld and His mercy extended. Through the death of Jesus on the cross, God can be righteous in judgment while fully forgiving us, presenting us holy, faultless, and blameless before Him—not because of our goodness, but because of His.
Don't settle for being halfway home. If you've been living with one foot in and one foot out, going through the motions while your heart remains distant, today can be the day you call out to God for genuine relationship. As the prodigal's father ran to meet his returning son, our Heavenly Father is ready to fully restore you—not as a distant servant, but as a beloved child.
If you have questions or want to talk further about your relationship with God, please don't hesitate to reach out. It would be our privilege to walk with you.
Grace and peace,
Jackie
5-Day Devotional: The Journey Home
Day 1: Halfway Home
Reading: 2 Samuel 14:1-24; Luke 15:11-24
Devotional: Absalom returned to Jerusalem but couldn't see his father's face. He was geographically close but relationally distant—halfway home. How often do we live this way with God? We attend church, read Scripture occasionally, even use spiritual language, yet our hearts remain far from Him. The prodigal son teaches us differently. He didn't just return physically; he came broken, humble, ready for restoration. True homecoming requires more than proximity—it demands surrender. Today, examine your relationship with God. Are you just going through motions, or are you genuinely seeking His face? Don't settle for halfway. God desires full reconciliation, not religious performance. Come home completely.
Day 2: The Price of Unforgiveness
Reading: 2 Samuel 13:37-39; Matthew 18:21-35
Devotional: David longed for Absalom, yet couldn't bring himself to see his son for five years. Caught between justice and mercy, between being a righteous judge and a forgiving father, David paralyzed himself with inaction. Unresolved conflict doesn't disappear—it festers. When we avoid difficult conversations or refuse to address broken relationships, we create distance that grows with time. David's hesitation cost him dearly. What relationship are you avoiding today? Who do you need to pursue with grace and truth? God doesn't call us to choose between justice and mercy—through Christ, He perfectly embodies both. Let His example embolden you to seek reconciliation, even when it's messy and uncomfortable.
Day 3: The Danger of Outward Beauty
Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1-13; 1 Peter 3:3-4
Devotional: Absalom was stunningly handsome, praised throughout Israel for his flawless appearance. Yet his beautiful exterior masked a heart filled with pride, anger, and rebellion. Scripture repeatedly warns against valuing outward appearance over inner character. Saul looked like a king but failed miserably. Samson had supernatural strength but moral weakness. God told Samuel, "The Lord doesn't look at the outward appearance, but at the heart." Where are you investing your energy—in your image or your character? Our culture obsesses over external beauty, but it fades. What remains is who we are when no one's watching. Pursue the unfading beauty of a gentle, humble spirit that delights God's heart.
Day 4: Holy, Faultless, Blameless
Reading: Colossians 1:21-23; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Devotional: You were once alienated and hostile toward God, expressed through your actions. Yet through Christ's physical body and death, God reconciled you to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before Him. Let that sink in. Not "mostly forgiven" or "good enough." Holy. Faultless. Blameless. This isn't about your performance—it's about His perfection credited to your account. Jesus became sin so you could become His righteousness. When shame whispers that you're too dirty, too broken, too far gone, remember: God doesn't see your sin when He looks at you. He sees Jesus. You stand faultless before His throne. Live today in the freedom of complete forgiveness.
Day 5: God Devises Plans for the Banished
Reading: 2 Samuel 14:12-14; Romans 5:6-11
Devotional: The wise woman spoke profound truth: "God would devise plans so that the one banished from Him does not remain banished." This is the gospel. You and I were banished by our sin, separated from holy God. But He refused to leave us there. He devised a plan—the cross. While we were still sinners, hostile and alienated, Christ died for us. God didn't wait for us to clean up, straighten out, or prove ourselves worthy. He pursued us in our rebellion. If you feel distant from God today, know this: He has already bridged the gap. The question isn't whether He'll accept you—He already has through Jesus. The question is: will you stop trying to earn it and simply come home?
Can someone look spiritually “close” on the outside while remaining deeply distant from God on the inside? This week in 2 Samuel 14, we’ll uncover the danger of “Halfway Home” faith and discover how Jesus alone can bring real reconciliation, repentance, and restoration.
