Keep Showing Up

What happens when you are not doing the things you are supposed to do and when you are not in a place where you are supposed to be?

2 Samuel 11:1 NLT
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.

David was a warrior of God but at that time, he chose to stay behind and send others instead to the battlefield.
                2 Samuel 11:2 NLT
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.

While he should be fighting for God, David stayed home resting and there he saw a beautiful woman bathing. He found and called for the woman whose name is Bathsheba and did what he shouldn’t do.

The woman became pregnant and later sent a word to David. When he found out about the pregnancy, David called the husband ‘Uriah’ from the war and he tried to cover up his sin. David bribed Uriah with gifts and sent him home to relax and be with his wife but it didn’t work, so he sent him back to war and plotted him to get killed and there he died. Bathsheba heard what had happened to her husband and she mourned.
                2 Samuel 11:27 NLT
When the period of mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to the palace, and she became one of his wives. Then she gave birth to a son. But the Lord was displeased with what David had done.

Imagine a series of sins that happened to cover up one mistake after the other. I realized that it all just started when David wasn’t where he normally goes and doing what he normally does.

I have learned a lot when I relate this to the ministry of God.
Sometimes we also approach God’s work as the normal thing we do. Maybe because God always delivered us so that we become complacent just like David. We tend to be confident of pulling out ourselves whenever we see that there is someone who can also do it. Perhaps it doesn’t challenge us anymore and we think it’s not a big deal if we are not there. True enough that the kingdom of God will continue with or without us but God wants us to be part of it for our very own sake.
God placed us in His calling so we won’t cause to displease him.

If this happened to David who is known to be a man after God’s own heart, then this can also happen to you and me.

Matthew 11:28 NLT
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

When we find ourselves in this situation, we may not look for a place but look for Jesus and find sustainable rest. The only place where we are safe and instantly renewed is in the presence of God. Let us make it a habit to come to Jesus daily and be where he wants us to be.

So then, my dear friends, stand firm and steady. Keep busy always in your work for the Lord, since you know that nothing you do in the Lord’s service is ever useless. 1 Corinthians 15:58 GNT

#timelessgoodnews