Almost Hidden Between The Lines

“Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.”  Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!  Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.”  And God granted his request.” (I Chronicles 4:9-10 NIV)

As we get older, we like to take trips down memory lane, looking at pictures taken at family reunions or going through old collections of photos.  In those old, black and white, group photos that were taken when we were young children, we are all lined up where we were told to stand.  Some family members are in the front of the line, some on the back line, and some were almost hidden between the lines.   We quickly search to find ourselves; almost hidden between the lines of the various generations who have gathered together.  We find ourselves and to reinforce our vitality and vivacity we think to ourselves, “I still have it!”  We even say, “I still look the same!”  If you are one of those blessed individuals, as my younger brother use to say, “I ain’t mad at you.”

The verse above is an excerpt from the genealogies of the twelve tribes that cover quite a few chapters and verses.  It can be likened to a family picture of sorts.  Many individuals of the tribe of Judah are mentioned in verses 1-23, but one individual in particular is almost hidden between the lines.  His name is Jabez.  Many people skip reading through the genealogies listed in the Bible.  For some, they don’t produce any interest or excitement, not like when we are looking at our family reunion pictures.  I would imagine that Jabez would not be known to many of us if his prayer had not been used as an attractive, brief message on all kinds of Christian bookstore merchandise; tee shirts, cups, mugs, paper weights, Bible cases, wall plaques and small wooden desk signs.  He might still be hidden between the lines, but in Jabez, between the lines, we find some lessons.

I’m sure as your read the opening verses that you learned several things about Jabez, but what stands out between the lines was that Jabez prayed and He requested that the Lord increase his territory.  I’m sure that it also stood out that God granted his request.  Yes, God answers prayers.

In the narratives of our family history and in the histories of people who are in the organizations we have worked in over the years, and even in the church records that date back decades, our names may almost be hidden between the lines.  While that was then, and today is now, I challenge you to add your name to the chronicles that compile a listing of the people of faith.  Even if you are between the lines, leave a legacy that you too were a praying person; you too wanted the Lord to bless you and enlarge your territory, not for your sake, but for sake of the kingdom of God; and let it be remembered that you too wanted the Lord to protect you and keep you free from hurt, harm, and danger.  Standout, even if you are hidden between the lines, as a person of faith who believes that the Lord our God hears are petitions and He will grant us our requests when our requests are for the good of the kingdom, lined up with His will, in agreement with His purpose, and not oriented around selfishness, material prosperity, and personal gain.

Even between the lines, you make a difference today because what you do today will have an impact on others and serve as an inspiration for generations to come.  So let’s do it my friend!  Let’s go out and make a difference for the sake of the Lord -today!  Be blessed!
 
 “So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out.  Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going.  He always keeps his word.  Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out…” (Hebrews 10:22-24 MSG)

  Still committed to the climb,
 Mark L. King