Consequences
Consequences: whether we realize it or not, we all have consequences to our actions. The story that comes to my mind is of David and Bathsheba. Instead of going into battle with his army, David stayed home and happened upon a beautiful woman, Bathsheba. He had to have her. It took the prophet, Nathan, to get David back on track. 2 Samuel 12:1-4 NKJV “Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him: “There were two men in once city, one rich and the other poor. “The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds. “But the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him. “And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”
It was then revealed to David that the man was him. So there were consequences to his actions. In verses 11-12 NKJV in the same chapter David is told by Nathan, the prophet, ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. ‘For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.’”
Like David, if we sin against God, we have consequences just as a child disobeys their father and mother. Only God knows what that looks like. We must remember, God is not a god of condemnation but of conviction, to bring correction as a loving father should.
Proverbs 3:12 NKJV, “For whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.
Proverbs 6:23 NKJV, “For the commandment is a lamp and the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life.”
When we read further into David’s story, which can be found in 2 Samuel chapters 11 and 12, we know that God loves David, and David still loves the LORD, a man after God’s own heart. David brought himself before the Lord with a sincere and repentant heart for the sins he committed against Him.
Psalm 51:1-19 NKJV, HAVE mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight—That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise. For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart—These, O God, You will not despise. Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem. Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.”
What you NEED to know is this!
1. There are consequences to our actions.
2. God is JUST but he is forgiving and loving also.
3. You are never too far gone for God to reach you.
4. Come to him with true repentance (Psalm 51:17)
5. The Lord loves you and will never give up on you! The only way we lose God is if we turn our back on Him and walk away.
The enemy will do anything he can to make us feel condemned. Don’t let him do this to you! To continue in David’s story, David was given a son named Solomon. When you follow the lineage, it leads to Jesus, whom is the reason we are redeemed, forgiven, loved, and have purpose! Just as we see how God mightily loved David and had a purpose for him, we should know that God mightily loves us and has a purpose for us! James 4:7-10 NKJV, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
©2022 Leslie Wittenmyer—All rights reserved