"....I anointed you king over Israel, and delivered you from the hand of Saul.... And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more!" (2 Samuel 12)
But it's never enough, is it? (Genesis 3)
2 Samuel reveals that although David had what any of his era could ever want, it obviously was not enough for David. Every quarter as I read of David's downfall, it is depressing. I know this is not what you probably want in a devotional, but it is the reality of far too many Kingdom People throughout history. Yet, though depressing, there are lessons which you and I can learn from David's life, and learning is one of the purposes of God's Words.
David had it all, one could say. He was a mighty warrior. It is recorded that he, "had God's heart." He left to his son, Solomon, the greatest extent of the Kingdom Israel has ever known. He is called, "the sweet Psalmist of Israel." But one day, one very "fateful" day, he broke covenant with his God. He allowed his base nature to get the better of him, and as the Word says, "Know that your sin will find you" (CEB). Now the Bible tells us that, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law", yet the Scriptures (and life) just won't stop showing us all that there is a price for sin. Yes, Nathan told David that his sin was forgiven, that he would not die as a result of it, but he also uttered those frightful words, "Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house."
Now what possible "devotional thought" can I share with you from the life of David, a man who started out with such "promise," so successful in everything he did, yet, in the vernacular, "blew it"? First a warning and exhortation that no matter what the self-appointed theologians may preach and teach, we do pay for our sins in this life, or to put it another way, sin has consequences which once set in motion cannot be reversed. We are forgiven, but forgiveness does not erase those consequences. Yet, in face of the reality of all this, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has... predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved....In whom (Jesus) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins" (Eph. and Col.).
David probably thought he was beyond and above the sin which he saw in so many others. My encouragement to you and me today is that we never so think, but rather obey the Words of God, "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise." May our Lord Jesus grant us the grace to so walk the reminder of this day---------------- and all days.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I am thankful that you put on my heart so many years ago to never be selective in my Bible reading. Amen.
But it's never enough, is it? (Genesis 3)
2 Samuel reveals that although David had what any of his era could ever want, it obviously was not enough for David. Every quarter as I read of David's downfall, it is depressing. I know this is not what you probably want in a devotional, but it is the reality of far too many Kingdom People throughout history. Yet, though depressing, there are lessons which you and I can learn from David's life, and learning is one of the purposes of God's Words.
David had it all, one could say. He was a mighty warrior. It is recorded that he, "had God's heart." He left to his son, Solomon, the greatest extent of the Kingdom Israel has ever known. He is called, "the sweet Psalmist of Israel." But one day, one very "fateful" day, he broke covenant with his God. He allowed his base nature to get the better of him, and as the Word says, "Know that your sin will find you" (CEB). Now the Bible tells us that, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law", yet the Scriptures (and life) just won't stop showing us all that there is a price for sin. Yes, Nathan told David that his sin was forgiven, that he would not die as a result of it, but he also uttered those frightful words, "Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house."
Now what possible "devotional thought" can I share with you from the life of David, a man who started out with such "promise," so successful in everything he did, yet, in the vernacular, "blew it"? First a warning and exhortation that no matter what the self-appointed theologians may preach and teach, we do pay for our sins in this life, or to put it another way, sin has consequences which once set in motion cannot be reversed. We are forgiven, but forgiveness does not erase those consequences. Yet, in face of the reality of all this, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has... predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved....In whom (Jesus) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins" (Eph. and Col.).
David probably thought he was beyond and above the sin which he saw in so many others. My encouragement to you and me today is that we never so think, but rather obey the Words of God, "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise." May our Lord Jesus grant us the grace to so walk the reminder of this day---------------- and all days.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I am thankful that you put on my heart so many years ago to never be selective in my Bible reading. 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
