"In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army....But David remained in Jerusalem."
(2 Samuel 11:1, NIV)
David chose idleness over serving. He paid dearly. Read on and you discover just how dearly. This text is from one of yesterday's readings. Perhaps the Church should read this every day.
There is a principle in the Bible which pop christianity refuses to accept--- we do pay for our sins. The religionists among us tell us that our sins are forgiven, "under the Blood," cast into the sea, "as far as the east is from the west," etc. While this is thankfully true, it is what they do not tell you that leaves so many disillusioned church-goers in its wake. There will be consequences. When a person makes a life decision, the consequence is sometimes good, sometimes bad. Some are short-lived, some are with us for the rest of our lives. Forgiveness of sin-decisions is not the issue; living with them is. This is true of individuals; this is true of nations. One could write a book.
Nathan reminded David that he had "everything." Why would he throw it all overboard for a few moments of pleasure? But he did, and something was released in David's family, then in the nation. Sin has a way of spreading like a deadly disease. Once the process is set in motion, no amount of "deliverance," no prayer, no worship, nothing can stop it. There are, my friend, laws in life which are like scientific laws; they just cannot be changed. Just a caution here for those who are quick to place every suffering of life as a punishment for sin. Remember Job.
We rejoice that ours sins are totally washed away, done away with, taken away in the Blood, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. I need never walk under any condemnation of sin because of Jesus. But one thing will never change in 0ur lives. There are decisions we made/make which are out there, decisions which no one, not even our Lord will bring back and "redo." Remember Bill Cosby's take on the God-Noah dialogue when Noah wanted God to change something? "Come on now; you know I don't work like that." It was grand, though frustrating, theology. May our Lord Jesus help us today to be very, very careful in every decision, every act, every word. Such carefulness will keep us from future guilt, sorrow and regret.
(2 Samuel 11:1, NIV)
David chose idleness over serving. He paid dearly. Read on and you discover just how dearly. This text is from one of yesterday's readings. Perhaps the Church should read this every day.
There is a principle in the Bible which pop christianity refuses to accept--- we do pay for our sins. The religionists among us tell us that our sins are forgiven, "under the Blood," cast into the sea, "as far as the east is from the west," etc. While this is thankfully true, it is what they do not tell you that leaves so many disillusioned church-goers in its wake. There will be consequences. When a person makes a life decision, the consequence is sometimes good, sometimes bad. Some are short-lived, some are with us for the rest of our lives. Forgiveness of sin-decisions is not the issue; living with them is. This is true of individuals; this is true of nations. One could write a book.
Nathan reminded David that he had "everything." Why would he throw it all overboard for a few moments of pleasure? But he did, and something was released in David's family, then in the nation. Sin has a way of spreading like a deadly disease. Once the process is set in motion, no amount of "deliverance," no prayer, no worship, nothing can stop it. There are, my friend, laws in life which are like scientific laws; they just cannot be changed. Just a caution here for those who are quick to place every suffering of life as a punishment for sin. Remember Job.
We rejoice that ours sins are totally washed away, done away with, taken away in the Blood, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. I need never walk under any condemnation of sin because of Jesus. But one thing will never change in 0ur lives. There are decisions we made/make which are out there, decisions which no one, not even our Lord will bring back and "redo." Remember Bill Cosby's take on the God-Noah dialogue when Noah wanted God to change something? "Come on now; you know I don't work like that." It was grand, though frustrating, theology. May our Lord Jesus help us today to be very, very careful in every decision, every act, every word. Such carefulness will keep us from future guilt, sorrow and regret.
Father, in Jesus' Name, never let me believe or live anything or anyone but You and Your Words. Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
