Daily Reading: 2 Samuel 11
Scripture Focus: In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab... But David remained at Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 11.1)
Devotional Thought: When he was a college student, Evan began to sell things on eBay part time. After college, the eBay business was doing fairly well, and he made a decision to quit his job and go "full time" with it. In the springtime of his business, there were hurdles: nay-sayers to tune out, financing to acquire, inventory to build, paperwork to slog through. With purpose, he fought every one of those battles, and is now operating a successful eBay enterprise called E-Money. It wasn't easy (and it isn't easy), but he stuck with it.
The springtime of an endeavor is filled with excitement and energy. But, the truth of the matter is - we have to work hard at it, we have to keep a springtime attitude.
David didn't do that. In the spring of the year, he sent Joab. David remained in Jerusalem. And then, his troubles with Bathsheba began. Think of the trouble that he could have avoided had he kept the springtime excitement:
· A family would not have been torn asunder.
· A valued commander would not have died in a set-up.
· The name of God would not have been impugned.
· A baby would not have been born, only to die after seven days.
God redeemed the situation, but it came at a great price. God redeems all our mistakes if we turn to him, but wouldn't it be better if we simply did what we were supposed to do, if we kept up a springtime relationship with him?
Do you need spring to return to your walk with God?
Prayer: Lord, thank you that you are in the business of redeeming our failures! You have redeemed so many of mine. Help me, Father, to keep my relationship with you in springtime condition and so avoid failures that need redeemed! Amen.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 103.6-14
6 The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
14 For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.
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