April 26th~Just One Step

1 Chronicles 20:1


2 Samuel 11:1-12:14

Psalm 51


2 Samuel 12:15-25


2 Samuel 5:14-16


1 Chronicles 14:3-7


1 Chronicles 3:5-9

David ruined his life! He had an affair with another man’s wife, got her pregnant, tried to cover it up, and, ultimately, had to commit murder to do so. In the process of destroying his own life, he also destroyed the lives of three other people: Uriah the Hittite, whom David killed covertly, Bathsheba, whom he seduced, impregnated, and widowed, and the baby, who was conceived as a result and whose life was taken by disease just seven days after his birth.

Of course, David repented (Psalm 51) and asked God for forgiveness (although beg was more like it); and, of course, God released him from the guilt and shame of the whole ordeal, but He did not release him from its punishment. Although the child died, that was not the end. “From this time on,” the Lord said, “the sword will be a constant threat to your family... I will cause your own household to rebel against you (2 Samuel 12:10, 11). The guilt of these deadly deeds did pass, but the pangs of their penalties would haunt David forever.

Over the years, I have heard many applications of this account in David’s life, and all of them would be worth the time it would take to share them; but I must digress and cut to the quick. If this period in David’s life teaches us anything, it should be two things: first, none of us, even the “best” of us, are without sin; even King David was not perfect. Second, at any time, any one of us can take a step off of “the path” and stumble or fall in a way that topples all that we have done or said in our lifetime. For these reasons, it is vital to guard ourselves against the pitfalls that surround us.

Perhaps you have heard this before, that we are most prone to stumble when we are alone, when we are tired, when we are hungry, when we are under pressure, or when we are spiritually weak.

Satan knows our weak spots, and we should know them too. But it’s not enough to know our weak spots, we must set up barriers around them, so that we stay far away from taking the wrong step. God’s grace is sufficient to cover any and all of our mistakes, but let us be diligent to keep our steps on the right path.

Daily Reflection

Peter wrote, “Be on the lookout, for the Devil prowls about like a roaring lion seeking some- one to devour” (1 Peter 5:7). Are you on the lookout? How are you protecting yourself from stepping off of the path and getting devoured?

You will sin; it is only a matter of time. But, did you catch how David was restored? He recognized the hideousness of his sin, he blamed no one but himself, and he pleaded for divine restoration. David also understood that because he was innately sinful, he was unable to purify himself, to achieve right standing before God in his own power. He knew that only the Lord could “create in him a clean heart and renew a right spirit within” (Psalm 51).

You are to be on the lookout, to guard yourself against temptation, but when you sin, that is not the end. Your gracious God has made a way for you to be forgiven and restored through Jesus Christ. “If you confess your sins, God is faithful to forgive you and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Praise Him for making you whole, especially when you fall to pieces.

BiAY.org | Day 116 — 249 Days to Go