Life is easier when our focus is on the right spot. When the randomness of life happens, we can get caught up in chaos. When we have a brilliant idea, we can get enthralled by our own genius. Whether we are in the mountain or the valley or somewhere inbetween,
It’s always better to get on board with what God is doing than hope God is on board with what we are doing. We can make good plans. We can have impressive dreams. We cannot ever dream as big as God can plan. David goes to the prophet Nathan
As they say, pride goes before the fall. How many people, myself included, are down-to-earth rational human beings until they get a dose of popularity? When notoriety comes around, we want more. It changes us. It alters who we are and what we desire. As the ark comes
As a prelude to this post, I acknowledge taking an unpopular path with respect to this passage. I understand there are plenty of solid theological thoughts running contrary to my words here. This passage evokes great debate. In moments of success, it is easy to see our focus slip away
Sometimes our sin is not disobeying God, but making assumptions about what God wants in the first place. We can be lured into places certain activities into the categories of always good or always bad. That’s not necessarily true, though. To be good, it needs to originate with the
Sin is a master at tarnishing the goodness God brings to our life. This doesn’t mean sin is more powerful than God. The problem is our free will. Even when experiencing success in God’s glory, we still feel the temptation of sin in our lives. David consolidated the
Success is wonderful, but it is not without its dangers. Success brings reputation. Success brings honor. Success brings fame. Success brings the eye of the world. Success brings the temptation to shift our focus onto the results and away from what got us there in the first place. David goes
God desires to use His followers to call people into relationship with Him. He may not always make His plan clear from the start. He may take His time developing His agenda. Whether we can feel it or not, God does have a plan to use His people. With Ish-
Those who take the place of God have a higher power to answer for their crimes. This is the essence of the first commandment given to Moses. The Lord is God, and He is a jealous God. We have no other gods before Him. With Abner dead and the elders
When we live lives of forgiveness, we allow people to see God dwelling within us. The world doesn’t forgive. The world competes. The world plots revenge. The world distrusts. The world shows up its enemies and puts them down. God forgives. God turns anger into love. David is appalled
If we have been forgiven much, we should forgive much. I deserve condemnation. My sinfulness deserves to live eternally separated from God. Blessedly, that is not my fate. Despite my sinfulness, God embraces me, calls me home, and forgives my wrongdoing. God welcomes me into eternal life with Him not
Just as God forgives us, He expects us to forgive others. Jesus gives us a parable in the New Testament about a person who is forgiven by their lord, but who turns around and refuses to forgive someone who owes him a debt. Jesus uses the story as a negative