ODB: Moving Past Sinful Failure
April 21, 2011
God forgives our sins completely to restore us to His presence and service.
READ: 2 Samuel 12:1-23
I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins. —Isaiah 43:25
How should we handle moments of faith-failure, when we’ve damaged the kingdom of God in the eyes of our friends and family or dishonored God in our actions?
We can learn from King David after his humiliation in the Bathsheba scandal. Though the terrible consequences of that sin could not be avoided, he found his way back to a relationship with God that made it possible for him to continue to serve Him. We too can find our way back.
David’s pattern in 2 Samuel 12 serves us well: We need to declare our error candidly (v.13) and seek God’s forgiveness. Then we can ask God that others be spared the consequences of our actions (v.16). Finally, we need to recognize that sometimes the consequences simply cannot be avoided and must be endured. While we always mourn those consequences, we can’t allow them to so consume us that we cease to be servants of God (vv.20-23).
Satan not only delights in the moment of our failure but also in the spiritual inactivity that sometimes snares us in our remorse. When we’ve blown our witness, we are and should be humbled. But we should not multiply the damage by retreating into silence and obscurity as ambassadors of Christ. We can move past failure.
— Randy Kilgore
Source: Our Daily Bread
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Thank you Jesus for reminding me the severity of my sins – it is not somehting to trivialize.
I believe that my failures serve not only to humble me but also to cause my heart to turn towards you. Especially the need to depend on you to do what is right besides avoiding what is wrong in your sight.
Lord Jesus you has been helping me with great gentleness as I have desired. Please continue to be patient with me and lead me in your everlasting way in honor to your name.
Keep me sober as I exercise self-control over my time and desires.
In God I trust!