We are coming to the last week before Christmas here at the Wolff homestead. All of Peggy and the children's shopping is completed. And what about me? I haven't even started yet. So it looks like a busy week ahead for me.
My wife's the best. My wife received recognition this past week on a local radio station (KTIS, which is a Christian Contemporary music station). Here is what she did: she saw that a neighborhood teenage boy was wearing clothes totally inappropriate for this Minnesota winter. He was always wearing shorts, and his tennis shoes were torn along its sides. The boy's mother is a single working mom, and she was stressed out because she didn't have the time or money to help her son out. Peggy learned that the boy didn't have any winter clothes. So Peggy took the kid out to a store that has nice clothes for dirt cheap prices, and was able to get him new winter clothes, a new pair of shoes, without breaking the bank. The boy was happy and grateful. But the mom was so relieved and thankful, that she had to let others know what Peggy had done. So she called the radio station and let them know what a wonderful act of love that Peggy had shown. Peggy has the best heart around, and it is so cool that she received this 'shout-out' from someone she helped.
For today's topic, I wanted to bring up a story from 2nd Samuel which caught my attention. 2nd Samuel deals with King David, after he rises to become King of Israel. David is expanding Israel's borders by defeating the pagan city-states neighboring Israel. And God's hand is with him – he achieves victory after victory. God's relationship with David was special – God's Word describes him as a "man after God's own heart". God loves David. But we see from the story of David and Bathsheba, how God's relationship works even with those whom He loves. During this particular spring described in chapter 11, David decides to stay home instead of going out to lead his armies. He's lounging on a couch, and decides to take a stroll on the King's roof. While out on this stroll, he sees a young lady taking a bath. And even though David has lots of wives and concubines, he asks after this beautiful woman. David learns that she is married to one of his soldiers, Uriah the Hittite (what's a Hittite?) And he still takes her, and has sexual relations with her. You know the story from here – Bathsheba becomes pregnant, and David ends up ordering the death of his faithful and honorable soldier Uriah. One sin leading to many other sins. It's a tragic story.
But the verse that caught my attention is 2 Samuel 11:27, which says: "the thing that David had done displeased the Lord." David displeased the Lord? I think I am like most Christians in thinking that my sins are always covered by God's Grace. My sins are placed on the Cross, and covered by the Blood of Jesus. Grace is a wonderful doctrine that is so freeing, my actions don't make God love me any greater or less in providing me with my salvation. But then I see someone like David who is a Bible hero, and greatly loved by God, but David still "displeased" the Lord. I'm not sure that this verse truly brings out the emotion of God from what David had done. You know, David committed a sexual sin, lied, and eventually caused the death of an honorable man. "Displeased" just doesn't seem to accurately describe what God is feeling here. A couple of other Bible translations describe it as "David had done was evil in the sight of the Lord" (NASB), or even "the Lord was angry at what David had done" (CEV), I think this brings out God's feeling a bit more clearly. God was angry and though He loved David, God was going to do something about it.
So for today's believers, can we make God angry like King David did, even though we are covered by the Blood of Jesus? Well, of course! If you need a New Testament verse, let's go to Revelation 3:19, which says:
"I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference." (NLT)
These verses show that being in a relationship is difficult. Our actions hurt and even make others angry. And being in a relationship with God is no different. God wants the best for us, and He acts to help grow us into the righteous people that He wants us to be. So my take away application is this – are you willing to ask God if there is anything in your life that is making Him angry? Let us appreciate God's Grace enough to not view sin with "indifference". Have a peace-filled and thankful ending week of Christ's advent. /s/Tom
No comments:
Post a Comment