by George | Apr 13, 2022 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
One Blot On His Record
“Because David did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.”
1 Kings 15:5
This verse summarizes David’s reign. It’s a favorable report, except for one thing.
First, let’s look first at what David did correctly:
- He did what was right in the Lord. David based his decisions on God’s word.
- He didn’t turn aside from anything God commanded him to do. It doesn’t sound like David argued with God or told Him “I’ll do that later.”
- “All the days of his life.” Consistency. David did the right things and obeyed God, not once in awhile, but all the days of his life. “EXCEPT in the case of Uriah the Hittite.”
2 Samuel 11 records what happened.
“Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem.”
2 Samuel 11:1
David stayed at home while others were in the battle.
He took a nap, and got up that evening. David took a stroll on his roof and looked toward a neighbor’s house. A beautiful lady was taking a bath.
Instead of turning away, David looked… and he looked some more.
He started to develop a plan.
Finding out from his staff that the lady’s name was Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, he told them to bring her over. It didn’t matter to him that she was married!
They have relations, and she becomes pregnant.
Instead of owning up to it, David tries to cover things up, and in the process, has her husband murdered.
David later repents of his sins. Psalm 51 is left for us as a great example of a penitent prayer.
This sordid affair is way outside of the character of David.
Why did this happen?
In a nutshell, David let himself get distracted.
It’s too bad he didn’t think of what he wrote is Psalm 119:
“Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, And revive me in Your ways.”
Psalms 119:37
The amplified Bible says it this way:
“Turn my eyes away from vanity [all those worldly, meaningless things that distract—let Your priorities be mine], And restore me [with renewed energy] in Your ways.”
David was a man after God’s own heart. (Acts 13:22)
Even someone close to God can be distracted and tempted.
Remember to keep your eyes focused on the Lord, submitting to His Lordship, and resisting the devil.
“Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7
If you do these things, your record won’t have a big blot on it!
by George | Apr 9, 2022 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Abraham: Satisfied With Life
“Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his people.”
Genesis 25:8
No regrets…. That’s what we want.
When we come to the end of our days, we hope to have no regrets.
Like Abraham, we want to be “satisfied with life.”
Abraham died a rich man, but I don’t think that’s what satisfied him.
Even though Abraham had wealth, he dwelled in tents.
“By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise;”
Hebrews 11:9
Abraham died before God fulfilled His promise to give him the land. That didn’t bother him. He knew God would keep His word. After all, he waited until he was over 100 years old before God gave him his first child.
So what was Abraham’s secret to being satisfied with life?
It was his faith!
“By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.”
Hebrews 11:8
It was a faith that was so strong that he was ok with the unknown. He went “not knowing where he was going.”
Abraham’s walk with God was so close that he was called a “friend of God.”
James 2:23 says:
“And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God and it wasaccounted to him for righteousness.’And he was called the friend of God. “
Isaiah 41:8
“ But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend.”
Abraham worshipped God, hearing His voice, and setting up altars as he traveled.
“The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants, I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him.”
Genesis 12:7
Frank Sinatra famously sang “I did it my way.”
I don’t think Abraham would have sang or said that. Rather, he could say: “I did it God’s way.”
by George | Apr 6, 2022 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Endurance
“We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.”
James 5:11
The news reported yesterday that a lost ship had been found. It had been missing 106 years!
NPR explains:
“An expedition that set out in search of the lost ship of polar explorer Ernest Shackleton has found it — 106 years after the vessel sank off Antarctica.”
The amount of time it has been missing amazes us, but even more amazing is the fact that it pretty much is intact!
“Mensun Bound, a maritime archaeologist and the director of exploration on the expedition, called Endurance22 said:
“This is by far the finest wooden shipwreck I have ever seen. It is upright, well proud of the seabed, intact and in a brilliant state of preservation. You can even see ‘Endurance’ arced across the stern,” Bound said.”
The ship Endurance ENDURED the deep waters and the sands of time…
As Christians, we need endurance. The writer of Hebrews explains:
“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.”
Hebrews 10:36
I’ve heard it said that life is a marathon and not a sprint. We run in the strength and encouragement of the Lord.
Sometimes when things get tough, we want to give up.
Endurance helps keep us moving forward.
Job and our Lord Jesus are great examples:
“We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.” James 5:11
Job endured suffering, didn’t lose faith, and came out victorious.
Jesus kept His eye on the goal as He endured the cross:
“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:2
As we run this race, let’s keep our eyes on Jesus, the ultimate example of endurance!
