GOD knows that too

2 Samuel 12: ⁷ Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. ⁸ I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. 

⁹ Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.

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“Look what I found” a friend exclaimed to me. It was a check book and a license.  We were in the student union and lost and found was right around the corner.  We quickly passed the office not even thinking about it.  We jumped in my raggedy car and gleefully bought a ton of groceries!

We had found someone’s identity and stolen it. On the way home my car made a funny noise then a very loud noise. We were stuck. I had to walk to find a phone to call a tow truck. The expense of the tow and repair was almost exactly half of the stolen grocery bill.

• When the words “No one will ever know” pops in my head I’m already in trouble.
• When I say to myself “It’s just this time” I’m already in trouble.
• When I am convinced that no one saw “that” I’m already in trouble.

The problem with hidden sin is thinking it’s hidden.  I guess that’s why I take the time to openly write about sin just to get the sting of admittance out the way!

• GOD says to me “No sin will be hidden.”
• GOD says to me “Everything you did will be made known to everyone.”
• GOD says to me “I know your heart and everything about you.”

I know GOD is slow to anger and is extremely patient, but there have been times in my life where I felt HE had enough of me ignoring HIM and HIS ways. When I ignore GOD it’s like I’s saying HE doesn’t mind or doesn’t even exist. Sometimes it’s almost like I’m saying, “I dare you to zap me.” Well, maybe not that extreme, but my action speaks volumes in my relationship with HIM.

GOD wants me to be mature enough to openly admit when I have sinned. It doesn’t make the sin go away, but it repairs my relationship with HIM who makes my sin go away!

• Are you hiding something?
• Do you think you will make it to the grave with “that” secret?
• Can you confess your sins so GOD will be faithful and just to forgive your sins and cleanse you of ALL unrighteousness? 

When the cover up backfires

2 Samuel 11: ⁶ So David sent this word to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent him to David. ⁷ When Uriah came to him, David asked him how Joab was, how the soldiers were and how the war was going. ⁸ Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king was sent after him. ⁹ But Uriah slept at the entrance to the palace with all his master’s servants and did not go down to his house.

¹⁰ David was told, “Uriah did not go home.” So he asked Uriah, “Haven’t you just come from a military campaign? Why didn’t you go home?”

¹¹ Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my commander Joab and my lord’s men are camped in the open country. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and make love to my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!”

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“What will I do? What will I do?” I fearfully thought to myself. It was dusk and the light waned quickly.  I searched and found a can that seemed to match. I crept close, spray painted the dented car and went into the house trying to think of my next move.  I didn’t have one!

• Sin makes me not admit things.
• Sin makes me want to cover it up.
• Sin makes me want to not have any consequences.

David tried to cover up his sin, but the mess was too big. The problem was, everyone else around him was acting noble and he was the one who caused the problem.  Eventually he had a person murdered and others died during this massive cover-up. GOD was not pleased.

• GOD wants me to accept HIS consequence for my sin here on earth.
• GOD wants me to admit I need HIM rather than scheming to get away with something.
• GOD wants me to trust that HIS chastening is in love rather than destruction.

JESUS died for my sins and enabled me to have everlasting life. This does not take away the punishment for the things I do here on earth. GOD wants me to follow HIM and trust HIS ways. When I lust, doubt or do other blatant sins, GOD sometimes corrects my course by throwing calamity in my path.

HE knows the sin path leads me to destruction and wants nothing but the best for me. He wants me to come clean with hidden sin.

• Are you hiding something?
• Do you think your sin will not be made known?
• Won’t you start your path to forgiveness by admitting your sin?
• Can you stop pretending the problems you face are GOD’s fault and evaluate what you need to tell HIM?

Bravery

2 Samuel 10: ¹² Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight.”

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As I gobbled down my lunch, I set up my Backgammon game waiting for my next victim. Yes I said Backgammon and we had classes in caves too. A friend of mine brought an antagonistic individual to the table. He said to me “What would you say if I said there is no GOD?”

The only reason I remember this so vividly is because this was the first time anyone had challenged my beliefs. I mean up to this point I went to church and came home like everyone else. No one had ever asked me to explain my beliefs. I was scared, but words came out of my mouth. “I just know” was the beginning of the conversation that took the rest of the period.

• When I face something difficult, I get scared.
• When I face antagonistic situations I get frightened.
• When I face what seems to be an army of issues, I get nervous.

Fear consumes me, then it makes me want to run and hide in the corner.  At that point nothing gets done. I then remember the fear and get scared to try anything that is challenging. BUT GOD wants something different of me.

• GOD wants me to be strong when times are difficult.
• GOD wants me to fight when I face a foe of HIS.
• GOD wants me to realize the battle is won because HE is the one who fights for me.

When entering any battle I must equip myself with the knowledge that the outcome belongs to GOD. This makes me approach the battle differently.  I see an opponent as an ally rather than someone who needs to be conquered or removed to get my way.  This is GOD’s child and compassion coupled with strength is how I need to go into the battle.

I can’t win unless we all win. I must be brave enough to bring others along, when I can.

• Are you facing fear?
• Are you scared of something new?
• Can you give your fear over to GOD?
• Won’t you BE STRONG because GOD is with you? 

Seek to be kind

2 Samuel 9: ³ The king asked, “Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?”

Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet.”

⁴ “Where is he?” the king asked.

Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.”

⁵ So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel.

⁶ When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor.

David said, “Mephibosheth!”

“At your service,” he replied.

⁷ “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”

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Kindness has been shown to me in various forms for many years. From a scout leader who tirelessly gave his time to us to the many bosses who stuck their neck out for me. One thing I noticed about them is they didn’t ask they just did.

• GOD wants me to seek moments in which I can be kind to someone.
• GOD wants me to actively pursue people to be kind to.
• GOD wants me to sacrifice a vacation or some “me” time to be kind to someone.

Being kind takes time and thought, but not always. Sometimes it is something as small as holding a door for someone or placing their newspaper near their door or smiling at them. The kind part is seen by the person who has done nothing to deserve the act. Hopefully I am ready to tell them why I do these things.

• I am kind because GOD is kind to me.
• I am kind because GOD can use the kindness to draw people to HIM.
• I am kind because GOD says “Love one another as I have loved you.”

Kindness should never be mistake for weakness. In fact it takes strength to show kindness in a humble way not expecting anything in return. Being kind is exactly what GOD wants from me.

• Are you full of complaints?
• Do you expect to get and never to give?
• Should you be kind to the person who isn’t?
• Won’t you show someone kindness today for the purpose of drawing them closer to GOD?

True Leadership

2 Samuel ¹⁵ David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people. 

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Blame was the name of the game at this particular company. My boss and my boss’s boss played the game extremely well. I wasn’t so good at it but I wanted to get ahead.  With my tiny team of three I worked to get things done. 

One person on my team was quite obnoxious because he was very knowledgeable on the system. Our tiny team would go around in circles because of arguments and discussions brought up by this guy! I thought to myself… I can blame him for our slow delivery. That was a huge mistake!

• I show poor leadership when I blame my people.
• I show poor leadership when I don’t resolve issues quickly.
• I show poor leadership when I am not sure of my direction.

This horrible experience taught me what a poor leader looks like.  After licking my wounds from the beating I received I had a lot of questions. What does a good leader look like? GOD had my answer.

• GOD says in order to be great I must be the least amongst my people.
• GOD says in order to confront people I must understand what love and compassion is.
• GOD says in order to lead many I must follow HIM for HE holds the correct path in HIS hands.

I was so busy trying to be the title that I was not being a good leader. I didn’t know my team, I didn’t know their strengths nor their weaknesses. I focused on the end goal and would get there with a lot of wounds. BUT GOD wanted me to act different. GOD wanted me to treat people right, confront with compassion and reward them for their accomplishments.

He wanted me to accept my position as a leader by following HIM and being led by HIS plans.

• Are you leading a group?
• Do you have Blame on your lips?
• Can you turn your blame into understanding of “that” person?
• Won’t you bring GOD into your leadership style and serve your team rather than forcing them to do your bidding?

How Great Thou Art!

2 Samuel 7: ²² “How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. 

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Sin takes my thoughts off of how GREAT GOD really is. I mean I get so busy asking for forgiveness that I can’t bring myself to marvel at HIS greatness. Worry does the same. It robs my thoughts of the splendor of GOD. I can say the same for a busy life, troubles and even vacations.

Each distraction takes my mind off of GOD and places it on yet another prayer asking for something. GOD deserves something different.

• HEAVENLY FATHER thank YOU for being GOD, I adore YOU!
• JESUS thank YOU, thank YOU for volunteering to take my execution sentence, I am at a loss for words.
• HOLY SPIRIT, thank YOU for dwelling in my sinful body, guiding me, comforting me, leading me and interceding for me.

GOD is truly amazing! There is none like HIM and no human can match wits with HIM. HE has forgiven me and raised me up in spite of my sin!

Blaming GOD

2 Samuel 6: ⁶ When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. ⁷ The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God.

⁸ Then David was angry because the Lord’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.

⁹ David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, “How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?” ¹⁰ He was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. ¹¹ The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his entire household.

¹² Now King David was told, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing.

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Finally at 12:30AM I went to bed after watching my racy show. This would be a normal day, I thought to myself. As I raced to the airport traffic was unusually thick entering the parking area. I cut it too close and watched the plane pull away from boarding area as I had arrived.

GOD why are YOU doing this to me?! I screamed in my mind!  With the sunken feeling of reality, I booked the next flight, knowing the partner of the firm would be livid. He was!

• Sometimes when things don’t go my way I blame GOD.
• Sometimes when things are going wrong I blame GOD.
• Sometimes when I think things aren’t fair I blame GOD.

David wasn’t supposed to have the ark of GOD on a cart rather it was to be carried by consecrated people as a burden to their sins. David became angry at GOD for killing a person when in reality David was the cause. I can see similar situations in my life when I am mad at GOD but blind to the sin I’m doing in my life.

• GOD wants me to recognize my own sin and admit it ti HIM.
• GOD wants me to understand when I’m blaming HIM and focus on praising HIM.
• GOD wants me to control my contempt of HIM being GOD and thank HIM rather than blame HIM.

With my sin GOD doesn’t always react with punishment. If that were the case, I would have been wiped off the planet years ago. GOD sometimes punishes me and other times HE teaches me with grace, mercy and love. HE is to be praised, not blamed!

• Are you blaming GOD for your circumstance?
• Are you trying to control your situation too much?
• Can you let go of your situation and allow GOD to yield HIS fruit?
• Won’t you review your own life and give HIM areas that are holding you back from greatness?