Thursday, April 16, 2009

Taking responsibility...

Reading my Bible over the last week or two I've been reading about the life of King David. David is one of the most amazing men on the pages of Scripture because his life was a life that experienced the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. He went from being a national hero in his victory over Goliath, being crowned King of Israel and with God's help, expanded Israel's military prowess; to bringing national disgrace upon himself and his country with his sin with Bathsheba. His failed cover up attempt in having her husband killed in the heat of battle; surviving a coup attempt by one of his sons and being forced into exile were awful low points in David's life. The Scriptures display David as a testosterone filled man with all of his faults, flaws and good points on display for us to see.

What I love about David is that his life, in spite of all of David's problems, was a life God used in an amazing way and God's commentary on David's life is summed up in Acts 13:22 "...He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.'" How can a guy who committed adultery and then murder to cover it up be called a man after God's own heart? How can a guy whose family was such a mess be held up as an example to us in the Scriptures and God say of him "he's a man after my own heart."?

The answer lies in this fact: When God confronted David through the prophet Nathan with his sin, David took immediate and full responsibility for his sin, he did not blame-shift to Bathsheba for taking a bath on the roof of her house, he didn't blame his parents for his upbringing, he didn't blame the government, he didn't blame the schools, or even his enemies. David took responsibility for his sin and said: "I have sinned against the Lord" (2nd Samuel 12:13). Short, sweet and right on target with reality - "I am the one who sinned against the Lord."

Later the Bible gives us David's full confession of his sin to the Lord in Ps. 51. When you see David's actions and when he sinned, he took responsibility and owned up to his sin, no excuses, no trying to justify or explain away or "spin" his actions for political gain. God said because of this, David was a man after His own heart - in other words, David and I are on the same page and he demonstrates his love for me because he listens to me when I confront him with who he really is, he's not perfect but he's my child because I gave him a new heart, and he will do all my will.

Wow. David's life is an encouragement to me that warts and all, victories and failures, God can use me in spite of my self; God and make something beautiful of my life for His glory when I take responsibility for my sin. He's an encouragement to me that I can still be a testosterone filled man, I don't have to be some effeminate wimp to love Jesus and follow hard after Him. David is an encouragement also in that no matter how much I mess up and sin against the Lord, the Lord is ever ready and faithful to forgive me and cleanse me, when I take responsibility completely for my sin. I want to be a man after God's own heart, what about you?
From my little corner to yours...

Monday, April 6, 2009

Friends...

Being pretty new to this "blog thing" where you basically keep a journal online and write your thoughts and feelings is kind of strange to me. I'm used to keeping a journal of various sorts but these are usually my thoughts and stuff the Lord says to me personally. What I'm not used to is putting these thoughts out into cyber space for the world to see. Well I am pretty confident the world is not reading my blog but you know what I mean. I'm amazed at how quickly time passes between my last entry and posting a new one. Seems like yesterday I put one on the internet.

But that's where friends come in since one of my closest friends in the world slams me tonight with a reminder to update my blog. True friends in our lives are those who have the courage to hold us accountable. Most people choose friends selfishly to stroke their egos and tell them what they want to hear. A wise person will choose friends that challenge them, hold them accountable and who have the courage to tell them the truth. I've watched friends come to the aid people who have made bad choices; but their aid is not in an effort to speak truth to them, but in a way that removes and minimizes their poor choices.

I'm constantly amazed at the cultural fad on TV called "American Idol" where these horrible singers are emotional basket cases after being told quite clearly they cannot sing worth a lick. They screech like cats in pain and walk out of the audition room blubbering or cursing saying the judges don't know what they are talking about. I've heard more than one say: "I just don't understand, everyone always tells me I'm a great singer." Their family is usually there hugging on them and affirming their ability to "sing". Well that's a family's job I suppose, but I'm thinking "doesn't anyone love this person enough to tell them the truth?"

Well the Scriptures speak of course to this very issue in
Proverbs 27:6 "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." I am blessed to have several of these friends in my life, friends who love me enough to tell me the truth even when it hurts. I tell them the truth too and our relationship is solid because we don't wear our feelings on our sleeves and take offense when our friend wounds us with the truth or holds us accountable. Ask the Lord to give you friends like that, and ask the Lord to help you be a friend like that. Ask the Lord to help you quit being a "friend" who is not a friend, but an enabler. So thank you my friend, for holding me accountable. I love you.
From my little corner to yours...