Monday, April 25, 2016

Mon.’s Devo - Forgiveness

Read: 1 Chron. 20:1; 2 Sam. 11-12:25; 1 Chron. 14:3-7; 1 Chron. 3:5-9: Ps. 51
Regrets are hard to get over and today we have to be reading about David’s worse regret. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time doing the wrong thing so the devil seized the opportunity to destroy him. It was the spring of the year when kings were suppose to go out to war. He should have been with his army. Instead he sent Joab to fight his battle for him. Next, he was up on his roof admiring his kingdom which is Satan’s greatest snare: pride. Gazing over his kingdom he sees Bathsheba bathing. I wonder if he had some sort of binoculars. He inquires about who she is and learns that she is married to one of his mighty men. All the red flags are flying and David chooses to ignore them all because, after all, he is the king.
The rest is history. We all have regrets that are part of our history. It is what we do with them that is important. David tried to cover his with manipulation, lies, deceit and murder. God loved David too much to let him get away with his sins so he was exposed in front of all Israel. David had been given great responsibility so his punishment was great. He hurt a lot of innocent people in his kingdom because of this one mistake. It is so hard to see one of our heroes fall. I can think of so many sports figures, movie stars, pastors, and leaders that have fallen from grace over a similar sin. Let’s face it: we may not be famous, but we have all done things that would make other disappointed in us at some time or another. I pray that we would do what David did: he cried out to the Lord for mercy and forgiveness. He didn’t blame anyone but himself and knew that his sin was against God only. He prayed to be cleaned on the inside out.
Lord, this is what we pray, to be washed with your Word and the blood of Jesus that our thoughts and intents would be clean. May our lips show forth praises to You.

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