Having a Heart in a Sometimes Heartless World
Day 186 – Temptations
Scripture focus: The thief wants to get his hands into every good thing in your life. He’ll create conditions and situations so horrible that you’ll see no way to solve the problem except to sacrifice everything that remains from his previous attacks. Rick Renner’s amplified translation of John 10:10(a) found in Sparkling Gems from the Greek
I never tire of considering the life of King David. A man after God’s own heart, in possession of every good thing in life, and he blew it. When I read through the historical accounts of the life and times of David in the Old Testament, I am always amazed by how his story unfolds. After slaying a giant, sparing Saul’s life out of a sense of unfathomable loyalty and honor, and finally achieving his destiny – kingship – David’s life unravels.
As the scriptures report – “In the spring, when kings go to war – David stayed home.” And while there, his eyes beheld Bathsheba. He fetches her, impregnates her, and then seems to wake up from the nightmare that has become his life. But just for a moment. He realizes he’s done wrong but promptly falls back into a horrible nightmarish situation. In a misguided attempt to right his wrong without accepting personal responsibility, he calls Bathsheba’s husband home in a thinly veiled attempt to provide Uriah an opportunity to sleep with his wife. DNA testing wasn’t available – so David thinks his little plan will surely get him off the hook.
Uriah refuses to sleep with his wife while the other troops are fighting, foiling David’s plan. Does David now choose the road of responsibility? No. He has Uriah murdered. Think this through. David is the king. If he sent an email out to the troops, and told Uriah he had the “hots” for his wife – do you know what Uriah would have done? He would have said, “Have her my King! She’s yours for the taking!” That’s the way it worked. But David, living independently of God, took shortcuts. He tried to make himself feel – pleasure, excitement – who knows? Instead of waiting for the fruit, David went out and stole fruit off of someone else’s tree.
David was a bad boy – but there’s more to the story. The thief waited for the opportunity to “kill, steal and destroy” (NIV translation of John 10:10(a)). David presented him with the opportunity the moment he loved without limits. Bathsheba was off limits. Regardless of the cultural mores of his time, David clearly knew what he did was wrong. In his spirit, David knew that loving God and others required more of him than even his own people required of their king.
As we make our choices today, let’s not forget David. There is a thief wanting to get his hands on your good life. You may not feel like life is good today, and perhaps you’ll be tempted to take a shortcut to feeling better. But watch out. While we’re taking the shortcut (temptation – a suggested shortcut to achieve that which we believe will ultimately be for good), the thief is alert to seizing the moment.
Recommended reading: 2 Kings 24 and 25 in the morning; Acts 22 and 23 in the evening
I never tire of considering the life of King David. A man after God’s own heart, in possession of every good thing in life, and he blew it. When I read through the historical accounts of the life and times of David in the Old Testament, I am always amazed by how his story unfolds. After slaying a giant, sparing Saul’s life out of a sense of unfathomable loyalty and honor, and finally achieving his destiny – kingship – David’s life unravels.
As the scriptures report – “In the spring, when kings go to war – David stayed home.” And while there, his eyes beheld Bathsheba. He fetches her, impregnates her, and then seems to wake up from the nightmare that has become his life. But just for a moment. He realizes he’s done wrong but promptly falls back into a horrible nightmarish situation. In a misguided attempt to right his wrong without accepting personal responsibility, he calls Bathsheba’s husband home in a thinly veiled attempt to provide Uriah an opportunity to sleep with his wife. DNA testing wasn’t available – so David thinks his little plan will surely get him off the hook.
Uriah refuses to sleep with his wife while the other troops are fighting, foiling David’s plan. Does David now choose the road of responsibility? No. He has Uriah murdered. Think this through. David is the king. If he sent an email out to the troops, and told Uriah he had the “hots” for his wife – do you know what Uriah would have done? He would have said, “Have her my King! She’s yours for the taking!” That’s the way it worked. But David, living independently of God, took shortcuts. He tried to make himself feel – pleasure, excitement – who knows? Instead of waiting for the fruit, David went out and stole fruit off of someone else’s tree.
David was a bad boy – but there’s more to the story. The thief waited for the opportunity to “kill, steal and destroy” (NIV translation of John 10:10(a)). David presented him with the opportunity the moment he loved without limits. Bathsheba was off limits. Regardless of the cultural mores of his time, David clearly knew what he did was wrong. In his spirit, David knew that loving God and others required more of him than even his own people required of their king.
As we make our choices today, let’s not forget David. There is a thief wanting to get his hands on your good life. You may not feel like life is good today, and perhaps you’ll be tempted to take a shortcut to feeling better. But watch out. While we’re taking the shortcut (temptation – a suggested shortcut to achieve that which we believe will ultimately be for good), the thief is alert to seizing the moment.
Recommended reading: 2 Kings 24 and 25 in the morning; Acts 22 and 23 in the evening
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