I'm trying a new spin on the 'Monday Morning Quarterback' routine, with some necessary adjustments. Instead of second-guessing and critiquing my favorite football team after their game on a Sunday, I will be posting thoughts and insights that I received from the previous day's message at church. And it will not be critical in nature. I trust that these men have much more helpful and established voices in their lives to give such feedback. Rather, it will be my joy to simply note what God is prompting in my heart as a noteworthy truth that was revealed and maybe potential application(s). So here goes...
March 9 @ Crossway Community Church (Mickey Connolly)
Text: 2 Samuel 11-12
Sixteen heart-probing lessons were shared, each one a golden nugget on which many hours could be spent meditating. Two thoughts in particular struck me about the somewhat well-known story of David and Bathsheba.
# 1 - God stands ready to bless
2 Samuel 12:8 ends with Nathan the prophet giving the unbelievable perspective of God Almighty when He says "And if this (the many blessings that God had provided David as king of Israel) were too little, I would add to you as much more". God stands at the ready to pour out a storehouse full of blessings upon me and my family. It begs the question of 'what am I doing to disqualify myself to receive them?'. I don't mean here that God moving in my life is dependent in any way to my actions, but merely that while HE is defined by his abundant grace to me, I am defined by my stubborn desire to seek my own good instead. May the Lord graciously provide Nathans in our lives that remind us that God has perfect provision for us and that our waywardness limits our enjoyment of it.
# 2 - Because of the cross...
I was reminded of a song from years ago by an interesting group. I'll spare you their details, but one unique beat and refrain from one of their songs played itself in my mind as I meditated on the truth that served as lesson #15 of sixteen. "We don't get what we deserve, we don't get what we deserve, we don't...". Well it just kind of goes on like that for a while, but the message is clear: "Because of the cross, God does not treat me as my sins deserve"! I'm sure the phrase 'you shall not die' echoed through David's mind as he walked through the effects of his sin in his life. While sin always has it's consequences, the gospel takes center stage as we remember what our real payment should be. What we deserve, we do not receive. And it's all by His grace.
Tonight, we appropriately started studying Ephesians 2:8-9 as a family in our scripture studies. God is the protagonist who introduces his GRACE into the equation and gives us the gift of FAITH to respond. It was not our doing, not a result of our works, and therefore we can not (and must not) boast. God is indeed most praiseworthy!
It was a rich day discovering more depths of this unmerited favor that God has granted. All God's best!
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