Sin and Forgiveness - 2 Sam. 6-15 & Lk. 15-17

Today's OT readings are primarily about David and his failings with Bathsheba and her husband. The story is pretty famous, but I guess it still blows my mind. Primarily that God called David a "man after His own heart" and yet David makes a big blunder by committing adultery and murder. In a way it seems warped that David is called a man after God's own heart, but in another way it's comforting. I want to be a man after God's own heart, yet I know how weak and sometimes pathetic I am. David's story gives me hope, because he recognizes his sin, asks for forgiveness and is given it. Of course, he does still suffer some consequences.

Yet that brings more confusion to me. Because I know that even though we are forgiven sin has consequences, but yet we are taught that God doesn't punish us per se, rather He forgives and forgets. Yet David's sin has consequences, but also a trail of what seems to be punishment. Even after he is forgiven his family goes through some awful stuff that doesn't seem to be linked to the sin. When I think about grace and then think about these things, my mind is left confused....

Anyway, in the NT Jesus speaks about forgiveness as well. He tells parables to lost people that show God's concern and love for the lost. The stories tell that God desperately seeks the lost and looks for them constantly and runs to them with love and compassion when they turn to Him. How beautiful is that?!

Jesus also teaches that we should always forgive. He says that we need to call people out in their sin, but if they repent we should forgive - always. And how could we not, when God forgives us over and over? Yet, like the one leper who returned to thank Jesus for healing him, we should always remember to worship Him and be thankful (not take for granted) our forgiveness and healing.

Good stuff!!!

2 Sam. 3-5 & Lk. 14:25-35

In today's reading David is finally made king. One thing that is interesting to note is that he was only 30 when he was made king. What's interesting to me about that is thinking about all he's been through. He stepped up to battle the giant Goliath on the Lord's behalf, he played the harp for Saul, he was put in charge of the armies and battles by Saul, then he was chased and many efforts were made to kill him - ALL BEFORE HE WAS 30! Wow. Then he goes on to lead Israel for 40 years - quite a guy. (Although, even he was not perfect. In fact God never uses anyone who is perfect, except Jesus, because...........there are no perfect people!!!) ***So take heart, if you're not perfect, you're in good company.

That being said, in today's New Testament passage Jesus really issues a challenge to His wannabe disciples. There were many who were following Him because He did miracles and taught some interesting things, and perhaps, just because everyone else was following. But Jesus stops and warns them that if they want to truly be His disciples that they must give Him first place. He must take priority over family, friends, work....even ourselves. On top of that, Jesus says we must carry our own crosses. In other words, we must give up our lives and follow Him. Just as the waters of baptism symbolize, we are buried with Him and are raised into a new life.

Let's be intentional about living new lives.

Turning to God - 2 Sam. 1-2 & Luke 14:1-24

To the best of my thinking, much of what keeps people from God is a lack of humility. I don't really think there are many people who think they have better answers for how the world began or why the world exists. I just think most people want to live life their way. So they choose to claim that they don't believe or that they're not into organized religion because they don't want to submit to Someone. I think God makes clear through the natural order that He exists. I think there are truly very few people who don't believe in Him. But the human ego is something...it is perhaps one of Satan's greatest tools.

In Luke 14 Jesus talks about humility and the need to respond when God invites you. Jesus uses parables to talk about these things, because this discussion obviously riles (sp?) people up. Nobody wants to admit that they are too prideful to bow down to God. It reminds me of the feminist movement. Many women in the midst of wanting to advance women's rights have messed up some wonderful things women had going for them. Likewise, when humans try to live by their conceived truths instead of the Truth they make a mess of their life.

If we would just humble ourselves and obey Him life would be so much easier (and the evening news would be a lot happier!).

Good guy vs. Bad guy - 1 Sam. 22-31 & Luke 12-13

So the saga of David vs. Saul continues. Saul just keeps after David, chasing him and trying to kill him. But time after time David is respectful of the king whom God has set in place and refuses opportunities to kill him. Eventually Saul and his sons (including David's good friend Jonathan) are killed in battle with the Philistines.

We get some glimpses of what makes David a man after God's own heart in this story. He is obviously a strong man, the type of man people want to follow, but he is submissive to God's will. He (at this point in his life) is not about his ego, but rather God's reputation. Unfortunately we will soon see this incredible man fall to temptation. If we could only see our lives as a whole as we are able to read David's story perhaps we would stand stronger against temptation, recognizing how it taints and ruins the otherwise beautiful story.

Getting into the New Testament there is really way too much to comment on. You have to read this stuff. This is just Jesus' teachings, it's awesome. A couple of things I will note... In chapter 12, verse 7 it is incredible to know that God cares about us so much that He knows the number of hairs on our heads! It's just so important for people to understand that they are important to God. Also notice that 12:31 reminds us to seek the Kingdom above all else, with the subsequent advice in 12:34 that says, "Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be." SO TRUE!!!