A Wrong Place, Wrong Time
King David, though, a mighty warrior, sinned when he lusted after Bathsheba. That sin led to another sin—sleeping with her—and when she became pregnant, David simply continued to dig himself deeper into a pit of sin.
You may recall that he brought her husband in from war to sleep with her, so he could deceive Uriah and make him think that Bathsheba became pregnant from her husband.
But when Uriah refused the comfort of being with his wife while his men were risking their lives in battle, David had him killed.
One sin led to another and another and another.
And it all began with being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Let’s look at Scripture:
“In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war . . . David remained in Jerusalem” (2 Samuel 11:1 NIV).
Why wasn’t David where he should have been?
Why wasn’t he at war with the rest of his men?
Failing to be where he should have been, got him in trouble.
This is where his downward spiral begins.
“One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her” (2 Samuel 11:2-3 NIV).
Wrong move, David!
Sometimes we can’t help what we see.
We live in a fallen world.
But we can determine how long we continue to view it.
David lingered too long.
“The man said, ‘She is Bathsheba . . . then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her”
(2 Samuel 11:3-4 NIV).
Right now would be a great time for David to seek forgiveness and repent. (Repent means to walk away from sin; to turn completely away from it.)
He knew what he did was wrong. But when he received the news that she was pregnant, he continued to sin by ordering her husband be placed on the front line of battle where he knew Uriah would be killed.
And it all began with being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
The Holy Spirit is faithful to guide us on the right path.
“Show me the path where I should go, O Lord; point out the right road for me to walk. Lead me; teach me; for you are the God who gives me salvation” (Psalm 25:4-5 LB).
Being on the right path—and staying on the right path—begins with asking God to SHOW us and LEAD us.
Let’s commit to asking God each morning to show us the right path and empower us to remain on it.
Thoughts?
I’ll be speaking in New Mexico August 1-6. Please pray for me.
Snakes and Storms
I just returned from my annual two-week missions trip.
We were in Costa Rica this summer.
327 people accepted Christ through our ministry.
Wow! God is so very faithful!
How He blessed blessed!
What an amazing ministry-adventure.
We’re going to Peru next summer.
Email me if you’re interesting in coming. (susieshell@comcast.net)
Right now I’m now in Michigan—speaking at a family camp for a week, and here’s what’s rattling around inside my head . . .
We know that the book of Acts chronicles the apostle Paul’s adventures, trials, blessings and setbacks.
At one point, God tells Paul to make the trip to Rome so he can preach the gospel there. The Lord also promises that no storm or snake would stop him. But in Acts 28:5, we notice that a snake attacks Paul. And we also know that the book of Acts is filled with accounts of Paul’s troubled sea voyages and shipwrecks.
What gives?
God never breaks His Word.
He always keeps His promises.
Yes, He DID promise that no snake or storm would stop Paul, but He didn’t keep Paul from the snake or storm.
While God didn’t provide an easy road for Paul, He did continually create amazing opportunities out of Paul’s setbacks.
And in Acts 28:5, we see Paul simply shake the snake off.
I often fret about a “snake”—something that has bitten me or gets in my way or frustrates me. But with God’s power within me, maybe I should be “shaking it off”—knowing that God will enable me to continue on the path He has led me.
Been bitten by any snakes lately?
Weathered any storms?
God has promised these things won’t stop us!
Thoughts?