Press On (part one)

Last Wednesday night, I was inspired by something Denise said. She spoke about how we should allow God to use our sin and weaknesses to help others not fall into the same pit we have fallen into. Yet, so many times, instead of allowing God to use our experiences to help others, we use them as excuses as to why God could never use us. We don't feel worthy. Our past is too shameful. I think, many times, we do want to be used of God to make a real difference in His kingdom, but we feel too ashamed of our behavior.

I have chosen two examples in scripture to examine; King David in the Old Testament and Paul in the New Testament. II Samuel 11:1-5 says, "It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king's house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, ''Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?' Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house. And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, 'I am with child.' Scripture goes on to tell us that in order for David to cover up his sin, he tried in various ways to get her husband to go home from battle so he would think the child was his, but Uriah had too much honor so David had her husband killed. Sin really snowballed here. First, David should have been with his men in battle but he chose to stay home. He watched a woman bathe, he slept with her in spite of her not being his wife and was, in fact, another man's wife and he intentionally had her husband killed in battle in order to cover up his sin. All of this from a man who loved and feared God. There are accounts in scripture of his tremendous love for God and yet we see what he was capable of doing.

As for Paul, scripture tells us in Acts 9:1-2, "Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring the bound to Jerusalem." And, Philippians 3:4-7 tells us, "though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ." Paul's sins were in persecuting the church and having confidence in the flesh and not in God.

What is so fascinating in both of these accounts and many others in Scripture is that they are recorded for all of us to read and learn. God openly tells of the sins of these people and then uses them in astounding ways! He does not seem to be ashamed or embarrassed of their behavior. As parents or leaders in various aspects of our lives, we think that the behavior of others reflects on our parenting/leadership skills. But, this is one way God shows His sovereignty. Our behavior does not make Him any less than He is. God does not have the self-esteem issues that many of us face! He does chastise and discipline us when we sin and, in fact, the child Bathsheba was carrying in the story we just read dies.

Next week, we find out if God is ever ashamed of us, what happens when we sin and then repent and how do we triumph in the midst of our weaknesses.