Today’s Bible readings are 2 Samuel 9:1-11:27, John 15:1-27, Psalm 119:49-64, & Proverbs 16:1-3
2 Samuel 11:1-4
In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to
war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They
destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However,
David stayed behind in Jerusalem.
2 Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of
bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city,
he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. 3 He sent
someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the
daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” 4 Then
David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept
with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her
menstrual period. Then she returned home.
It is so important for us to stay focused. The moment that
we start to lose our focus we find ourselves in a very vulnerable position.
Many times we never realize that things are going in the wrong direction until
it is too late.
I’m sure that David never thought that staying home from the
battle would lead to the great sin of adultery in his life, but it did. I’m
sure that David never thought an afternoon stroll on his palace roof would lead
to this incredible temptation, but it did. I also am very confident that after
it all happened he spent time wishing that he would have been out to battle, which
was the normal thing for kings to do in the spring.
How does this apply to our lives? It is simple. We all have
to stay focused in our lives. We can’t come to a place where we become
complacent. That is the greatest error we can make. It is what started it all
in this downward spiral. David had become complacent in his life.
Jesus taught us to make sure that we keep from becoming
complacent in our lives too.
Matthew 24:42-43
42 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your
Lord is coming. 43 Understand
this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep
watch and not permit his house to be broken into.
Satan is a master thief. He lies in wait until there is a
perfect moment for him to attack. He often waits until he sees us complacent in
several areas of our lives. When he notices that our attentiveness is low, he
starts to make his move. He sneaks around looking for the right moment. Once it
arises, he starts to throw out his little suggestions:
1. Doesn’t’ that sound fun?
2. Nobody would ever know.
3. You have really earned it.
4. You deserve this.
5. It isn’t that big of a deal.
6. A little bit won’t hurt you.
These are all things that we would never fall for when se
are focused & our heart is in tune to the right things. Yet, once we lose
our focus & complacency sets in, these things start to sound a little more
like the right thing to do. We don’t notice the warning signs because we have
lost our alertness. This is the pathway to sin.
All of this can end by staying focused. Keeping our eyes on
Jesus & staying focused on the main thing—reaching the lost & building
the kingdom of God! If we stay focused in these areas we will eliminate the
errors that come as a result of a complacent heart.
Take your stand against complacency. Stay alert. Remain
vigilant. This is how we keep our eyes on the prize & off of other things
that will take us down the wrong path. It is a key way to avoid loss in our lives.
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