Today proved to be both a restful day and  productive day. The spring weather has certainly been enjoyable and that makes life easier. My afternoon workout went better than I anticipated. I guess the two days off were helpful. I walked eight minutes on the treadmill, thirty-five minutes on the exercise bike (going farther and faster than I have in the past) and a good ten minutes on the row machine. That was along with my upper and lower body weight lifting. I have also been using my electronic muscle stimulator on my right leg to push the muscle “firing” and development.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… Then Jesus told them this parable: “There was once a man who had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. He went looking for figs on it but found none. So he said to his gardener, ‘Look, for three years I have been coming here looking for figs on this fig tree, and I haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it go on using up the soil?’ But the gardener answered, ‘Leave it alone, sir, just one more year; I will dig around it and put in some fertilizer. Then if the tree bears figs next year, so much the better; if not, then you can have it cut down.’” Luke 13:6-9

A few days ago I was reading Luke 13 and this parable got my attention. I have never preached a sermon or given much consideration to this parable. But it is one that certainly gets our attention. Several commentators agree that the parable is related to the verses before it when Jesus calls His listeners to turn from their sins, “…I tell you that if you do not turn from your sins, you will all die as they did.” (Luke 13:5)

This was a fig tree in a vineyard. It wasn’t a tree found in an unexpected place. It was where it was suppose to be, it just wasn’t doing what it was suppose to be doing…bearing fruit. John the Baptist call to the crowd was, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” (Luke 3:8) John went on and basically said don’t rely on your heritage by birth, the Lord is looking at each heart.

The owner of the vineyard was disappointed for three years that no fruit was evident. The assumption is that his expectations were not unrealistic and the judgment he ordered was not a hasty one.

The gardener appeals for an opportunity to work on the barren tree. He suggested that he would dig around it and fertilize it and see if it would bear fruit the next year. In the role of the owner of the vineyard and the gardener we see the full aspects of the Lord’s holiness that calls for accountability and His mercy that provides for delayed judgment in anticipation of a change.

What is important to us to see is that the Lord anticipates responsiveness and fruitfulness. But in that process we are not on our own. He is for us and working in us. This role of Jesus as the “gardener” or “vine-dresser”  reminds us of John 15 when we see the work of the Lord pruning and working to make fruitful and productive.

So, today make a commitment to growth and fruitfulness. That may be responding in faith to the Lord as a commitment to follow Him; it may be a commitment to growing in the Lord, seeking to fulfill His purpose in your life. If the Lord is “turning up the soil” in your life, know that it is for your good.

This morning was a full day at church with Debbie helping lead the Grief Share class while I assisted in the prayer times during the second and third services. I was pleased to spend some time this morning with Lew Gaiter. Lew is a Larimer County Commissioner and fellow believer. He was the key initiator of our Tuesday morning prayer time for our government officials.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “How terrible for you Pharisees! You give to God one tenth of the seasoning herbs, such as mint and rue and all the other herbs, but you neglect justice and love for God. These you should practice, without neglecting the others. “How terrible for you Pharisees! You love the reserved seats in the synagogues and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces. How terrible for you! You are like unmarked graves which people walk on without knowing it.” Luke 11:42-44

Jesus was an equal opportunity offender when it came to the religious groups of the day. It was not only His actions that caught ire of the Scribes and Pharisees, but His words that pointed out their hypocrisy and focus on the external more than the heart, proved a sore spot as well. For the Pharisees is was all about “the show.” If you look religious, if you tout your spiritual pedigree and insight, that is all that matters.

The Pharisees tried to put Jesus in tough spots with the questions they asked Him. They were not sincere questions, they were designed to “catch Jesus in His words” and accuse Him of being less than what He was in the eyes of the people. But we see Jesus took the position of judge and condemner of the Pharisees actions. I wonder what it would have been like to actually hear Jesus’ words with the intonation and sharp rebuke with which they were spoken. The ones who delighted in judging others, were being “called out” by Jesus. Talk about risk, talk about authority.

Other translations use the preface to Jesus words as, “Woe to you….” This is more than a shaking of the finger. I recall the “woes” pronounced by angel messengers in Revelation. This is an indication of not just disapproval, but coming judgment.

Why did Jesus condemn the Pharisees? Because they focused on what was easy for them and neglected the difficult and true devotion. It was easy for them to “tithe.” It was hard for them to love God and show God’s love through mercy and justice. Jesus did not condemn what they did, as much as what they did not do.

The Pharisees loved the parade and the respect of man more than the respect of God. They were man focused, not God focused. They elevated themselves in the eyes of people and not the Lord. The Apostle Paul, who was a member of the Pharisees, would say as a Christ-follower, “follow me, as I follow Christ.” The Pharisees of Jesus day just said, “follow me.”

That last condemnation of Jesus carries the most vivid word picture, “you are like unmarked graves.” For those who loved the “show” and were committed to ritualistic purity, this would have hit them hard. They were all about being noticed and respected. To be told the opposite would have been a strike to the core of their identity.

As the Scribes (Teachers of the Law) hear Jesus’ words, they say,“Teacher, when you say this, you insult us too!” (Luke 11:45) That was an invitation for Jesus to tell them what He really thought about them.

 Jesus answered, “How terrible also for you teachers of the Law! You put onto people’s backs loads which are hard to carry, but you yourselves will not stretch out a finger to help them carry those loads. (Luke 11:46) This is quite a contrast for the one who said, “…my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:28)

What is important to remember today? Remember that it is easy to “cluck our tongues” at the Pharisees, but fail to see spiritual arrogance, or air of superiority in our own lives. Christ calls us to not just what we find easy, but that which we can only do in His strength.   That requires a life of obedience in following Him in our actions and character. We are reminded that we must walk humbly before the Lord and to always point others to Him. Christ is our example and Lord. The rest of us are fellow sojourners in this life as those who are following Him.

I got outside today and began some spring yard work. Nothing overly aggressive but at least an attempt to begin our preparations for an upcoming growing season. The other day when I was walking the dog, I saw a man in his yard with his sprinkler system on. I told him he was pushing the season. He said, he was bored.

My exercise to day was some impromptu home exercise and trying to vacuum the carpet from a chair or my walker. That was a new experience. I got the office done and rested.

I did make a quick trip to Aurora to Congressman Mike Coffman’s birthday party. It was good to see him once again. I gave him a “Ken Summers” mug, which I am sure he will value highly. 🙂 Both he and Cynthia have always been very gracious and supportive as I have recovered from my illness.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “…Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up to heaven, thanked God for them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people.  They all ate and had enough, and the disciples took up twelve baskets of what was left over.” Luke 9:16,17

This miracle of Jesus is one of the premier miracles of the gospel. It was reminiscent of, but far greater than the miracle of Elisha when we feed one hundred prophets with twenty loaves of bread. (2 Kings 4:43) It was a reflection of how the Lord provided manna in the wilderness for God’s people. When the people saw this miracle it inspired them to believe God’s kingdom had arrived. But in their hearts it was, “Jesus you supply the bread, we will supply the manpower and we can make you King.” That’s not what Jesus had in mind and shortly after this many stopped following Him.

But there is something more fundamental about the Lord’s provision and His work that is important to see. Jesus took these meager and inadequate resources, blessed them and used them to feed the multitude. I recall many years ago reflecting on this miracle and considering this divine equation. “A little, plus God’s blessing equals a miracle.” That is what I consider the principle of the feeding of the 5,000.

It begins with what is available.  So often we focus more on what we don’t have, than what we do have. We focus on what we can’t do and not on what we can do. When God called Moses to a task way beyond himself, He asked one question, “what is in your hand?” Moses answered a rod, just a shepherd’s rod. Nothing unique or special. But the rod with God’s blessings became “The Rod of God.”

When the prophet Elijah met a widow woman who had just enough flour and oil for one last meal for her and her son, he asked her to bake one for him first. Pretty bold request! But when she obeyed in trust in the Lord the flour and oil multiplied and sustained her until the famine was over.

When Elisha met an impoverished widow of a prophet, who was facing the wrath of creditors, all she had was one little jar of oil. The prophet commanded her to collect all the jars in her house and all those she would borrow from her neighbors. She began to pour out the oil from the small vessel and it filled all the vessels in the house. She was able to sell the oil and pay her debts.

It requires the Lord’s blessing.  That comes through prayer, through faith, through obedience. Jesus blessed the loaves of bread and the fish. The widows encountered by Elijah and Elisha had to act in faith and obedience to what they were instructed to do. Moses had to obey the Lord when he was instructed to throw down his staff, to stretch it over the Nile, to strike the ground, to strike the rock in the wilderness. What we do must be based in obedience and faith, knowing that it is the Lord’s blessing the changes the ordinary to the supernatural.

The miracles comes from our participation. I like how that Jesus broke the bread and fish and gave to His disciples who in turn fed the people. Elijah’s widow had to bake the bread, Elisha’s widow had to collect the vessels and pour out the oil. The plagues came on Egypt and the miracles took place in the wilderness on the Lord’s command and the words and deeds of Moses. What is exciting is that the Lord involves us in the miracles He performs. Jesus to his disciples said, “…these signs shall follow them that believe…” (Mark 16) Yes, God can and does act sovereign ways. But more often than not in the Bible and today, He works through people. People who have very little to offer, but surrender it to the Lord, asking His blessing, following His commands and as a result miracles take place, resources are multiplied and needs are met.

So, I have a question for you to consider, “what is in your hand?”

You know that your day is not overly exciting when the big event is a hotdog (actually polish dog) at Costco. It was nice to have Debbie come home midday and to join her in a trek to one of her favorite places to shop. One our way back home she dropped me off at the fitness center for my daily workout, while Debbie returned to her work duties. I am staying at it and can see some progress. I had a little more intense workout on the row machine and a good thirty plus minutes on the bike, along with my upper and lower body weight exercises. Continue to pray for the nerve and muscle development in my right leg, especially my quads.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… That night the Lord appeared to him [Solomon] in a dream and asked him, “What would you like me to give you?”…Solomon answered…“give me the wisdom I need to rule your people with justice and to know the difference between good and evil. Otherwise, how would I ever be able to rule this great people of yours?” 1 Kings 3:5,9

The transition of power from David to Solomon is complete and Solomon has firmly establish himself over the kingdom of Israel. He demonstrates his commitment to the Lord by regular worship at the altars throughout Israel. After one of occasion the Lord appears to Solomon in a dream and asks what he would like.

Our familiarity with this story allow us to gloss over that offer. If you were Solomon what would your response have been? I’m not always comfortable with those “what one thing…..?” or “what is your favorite…..?” type of questions. I remember when Debbie’s mom was recovering from a hospitalization just week before she would eventually pass away. We were going through an exercise where she was picking out her “top ten priorities for the end of life.” I was more uncomfortable than she was with the process and she was amused when I asked, “who made up the rule that you can only have ten?” So you can see why narrowing a once in a lifetime decision to one is a challenge. That is where Solomon was at.

In considering his request, we see that Solomon recognized the challenge and the opportunity before him as King. “O Lord God, you have let me succeed my father as king, even though I am very young and don’t know how to rule.”  (1 Kings 3:7) He understood that he was in the position of King because of the Lord’s love and kindness to his father, David. It wasn’t because he was “next in line” – he wasn’t. But it was the Lord’s will for him to be King as well as his father’s desire. Solomon wasn’t chosen because of his outstanding abilities. I’m sure he had developed some, but he even admits to being handed a challenge that was greater than he could handle in his own ability. I can recall being in those types of situations in my life.

A key to honoring the Lord is understanding what I need, not what I want. We often look with envy at those who are successful and desire the outcome, whether it is position, status or wealth. But we often neglect to consider the skills and responsibility that come with those achievements and blessings.

Solomon’s request revealed humility, which is important for an effective leadership. He wanted to govern properly; and he realize he needed wisdom and a discerning heart to do so for the good of the nation.

Wisdom doesn’t equal perfection. I do note that he married the daughter of Pharaoh before this request for wisdom from the Lord. But Solomon made it habit to take many foreign wives which was the “wisdom of the world” of that time. It was a way to secure your kingdom and to keep foreign kings from attacking members of their own family. This practice eventually lead to Solomon’s downfall. So, just because you have wisdom, doesn’t mean you will always make the most of it.

Wisdom does bring blessing and is noticed. “I will also give you what you have not asked for: all your life you will have wealth and honor, more than that of any other king. And if you obey me and keep my laws and commands, as your father David did, I will give you a long life.” (1 Kings 3:13,14) When the Queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon and check out the reports she had heard in her distant land, she remarked, “Happy are your men and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom! Blessed be the Lord your God, who delighted in you, setting you on the throne of Israel!” (1 Kings 10:8,9)

God’s wisdom is available to us if we value it and asked for it. Solomon’s advice was, “Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.” (Proverbs 4:7 NLT)  The Apostle James simply said, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5 NIV)

The Lord may not give you wisdom to make you the “wisest person in the world”;  but He will give you wisdom to govern well your family, business and personal decisions if you ask and believe Him for that in your heart.

I was practicing tying my new and only bow tie, when I realized I had not posted today’s blog. My day went well with another fitness center workout and a massage. I had an early evening HOA meeting my third of the week and then Debbie and I had dinner at Outback Steakhouse.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “But Jesus sent him [the man delivered from demons] away, saying, “Go back home and tell what God has done for you.” The man went through the town, telling what Jesus had done for him.“  (Luke 8:38-39)

Jesus spent three short years in his active ministry of teaching and working miracles. But it didn’t take long before His popularity and notoriety grew to proportions that caused the Pharisees envy and the political leaders concern. This was all in day when their was no news media, email, twitter, FaceBook and other modern forms of communication.

But people were used to sharing what they had heard and seen with their family, neighbors and members of the community. At times scriptures simply records of Jesus presence in a town that, “it was noised abroad that He was in the house.” (Mark 2:1)

We see Jesus sent out His disciples to preach and good news and to baptize. There were women who accompanied Jesus who undoubtedly helped spread this message as well. Those whose lives had been impacted by Jesus simply shared their stories.

The blind man said, “once I was blind, but now I see.” (John 9) The women at the well in Samaria went to her community and said, “Come see the man who told me all, can this be the Messiah?” (John 4) Lepers were healed, the dead were raised, the lame walked, the multitudes were fed. People told people and the crowds came to follow Jesus.

One invitation and one command summarize the responsibility of believers in Christ. “Go and tell.” “Come and see.”   When our lives have been changed by Jesus we have the opportunity to go and tell others about what He has done in our life and the lives of others. As we do that our simple invitation to others is, “come and see.” That is what Philip did, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” answered Philip.” (John 1:46) We don’t have to convince, we just have to invite.

People still talk today. They talk about the weather, sports, hobbies, family activities, politics. But we have been convinced that we can’t talk about issues of faith; what we believe and what we have experienced. I’m glad those of Jesus day were not shy about that, or we may not be followers of Christ today. The came and saw, they went and told. It is that basic. And when that happens Jesus is faithful through the work of the Holy Spirit to draw people to Himself.

My routine this week as been fairly consistent. My mornings are spent in reading and office work and then I have an early afternoon work out. I come home and walk the dog and then work on my blog and hope Debbie comes home soon and we have our afternoon/early evening coffee. I believe the dog has picked up on the routine and may face a rude awakening when my days change.

I have had some evening meetings with my home owners association duties, so that along with church activities has been keeping me engaged and active outside the home

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “What has happened before will happen again. What has been done before will be done again. There is nothing new in the whole world. “Look,” they say, “here is something new!” But no, it has all happened before, long before we were born. No one remembers what has happened in the past, and no one in days to come will remember what happens between now and then.” Ecclesiastes 1:9-11

Solomon’s frame of mind in Ecclesiastes reflects a man who made it to the top and found there was no where else to go. When he arrived his response seems to, “this is it?!” He found “the top” could be lonely and frustrating. But while he concluded, “life is useless” he does make some interesting observations that have some relevance for today. As I near the end of the book here are some things that have caught my attention.

Live with the end in view. “It is better to go to a home where there is mourning than to one where there is a party, because the living should always remind themselves that death is waiting for us all.…A wise person thinks about death.” (Eccl. 7:2,4)

Solomon can be fairly morose in his outlook. However, he makes the point that too many run through life, trying to succeed and be happy and ignore that fact that our days are numbered. This is more difficult when you are young and more on your mind as you grow older, but still the prayer of Psalm 90:12 is an important one, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.“ Don’t just live your life, invest your life.

Character is important. “A good reputation is better than expensive perfume…You may be wise, but if you cheat someone, you are acting like a fool. If you take a bribe, you ruin your character.” (Eccl. 7:1,7) It not just the number of your days, or the life you live, it is the person you are that will help you make a difference, and save you from suffering.

The good old days are…just old  “Never ask, “Oh, why were things so much better in the old days?” It’s not an intelligent question.” (Eccl. 7:10) Thinking nostalgically about “the good old days” is nothing new. Someone once observed that “those who long for the good old days, suffer from a poor memory.” Life changes, the world changes sometimes for the good and at times seemingly not so good. God is the God of the “now.” He doesn’t change and His purposes for our life remain the same.

Criminal Justice and end of the wicked. “Why do people commit crimes so readily? Because crime is not punished quickly enough. A sinner may commit a hundred crimes and still live. Oh yes, I know what they say: “If you obey God, everything will be all right,  but it will not go well for the wicked. Their life is like a shadow and they will die young, because they do not obey God.” (Eccl. 8:7-13) It is interesting to see today how often delayed justice is a topic on deterring crime. If Solomon lived today, perhaps he would simply say, “crime doesn’t pay.”

Life isn’t fair. “Look at what happens in the world: sometimes the righteous get the punishment of the wicked, and the wicked get the reward of the righteous. I say it is useless.” (Eccl. 8:14) Have you ever responded to your child’s declaration, “you’re not being fair” with “life isn’t fair.” It was true in Solomon’s day and it is in ours.

Don’t make rash decisions. “If your ruler [or boss] becomes angry with you, do not hand in your resignation; serious wrongs may be pardoned if you keep calm.” (Eccl. 10:4) Think before you act is a good motto. Solomon realized that and we need to as well.

Investment Advice. “Invest your money in foreign trade, and one of these days you will make a profit. Put your investments in several places—many places even—because you never know what kind of bad luck you are going to have in this world.” (Eccl. 11:1,2) How many times have you heard, “don’t put all you eggs into one basket” or have been reminded about the value of “diversifying your investments.” Solomon understood this principle and the importance time and patience thousands of years ago, and it still holds true today.

These are just a few life lessons from Solomon. I believe we can all related. So, the next time someone says, “the Bible is irrelevant for today and doesn’t make any sense, and doesn’t have anything to offer me for my life.” You might point them to the wisdom and observations of Solomon in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.

The weather today was cooler, but still nice. My afternoon workout at the fitness center went well. I walked six minutes on the treadmill, thirty-two minutes riding the bike and ten minutes on the row machine. That was a first for me, to be on a row machine. My friend John Clinard will be happy to hear about that. He encouraged me to consider that as part of my exercise routine several months ago.

 BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “…Absalom provided a chariot and horses for himself ….Absalom would say, “Look, the law is on your side, but there is no representative of the king to hear your case.” And he would add, “How I wish I were a judge! Then anyone who had a dispute or a claim could come to me, and I would give him  justice.” …Absalom did this with every Israelite who came to the king for judgment, and so he won their loyalty.       (2 Samuel 15:1-6)

David’s Camelot kingdom was disrupted by a nasty civil war that threatened to take over the kingdom by force. But the opponent was not an “outsider,” it was not the general of the army, which was often the case. David’s opposition and the threat to his reign came from his own son.

Absalom was good looking and charming. He defended the honor of his sister when she was raped by their half brother Amnon. King David did not take decisive action and so at the opportune time Absalom did. He killed his brother and then sought refuge in the home country of his maternal grandmother, until finally being brought back to Jerusalem. But while he was physically in Jerusalem, he was still estranged from his father.

Absalom seems to be a man motivated by revenge. It was one thing to kill his brother for the rape of his sister. But when Joab did not come to see Absalom when he called for him, he had his men burn Joab’s barley fields. Now that his father was ignoring him, he took revenge on his father by rebelling against his father’s reign. Absalom has an “I’ll show you” approach to life.

Absalom goes to Hebron where he devises a plan to be declared King in the city where his father first established his throne. David with those loyal to him flees from Jerusalem, as Absalom and his armies move into the city. After David flees the city, Absalom leading his armies in battle against David’s men is killed when his long hair gets stuck in the low lying branches of a tree and he is left hanging in the air.

When David hears the news of his death, he mourns for his son. This reaction creates such confusion that Joab has to get David’s attention and tells him to “straighten up and get out there and express his gratitude to those who risk their life to save his kingdom.” David then faces another rebellion from Sheba of Benjamin that has to be put down, before his kingdom is once again secure.

There are many intriguing aspects and points of drama in these chapters that describe these events. But a key is David’s role as a leader and a father.

David’s lack of action as a father and attention as a leader brought trouble to his house and kingdom. I’m not sure of the family dynamics with multiple wives and children, but David was still very much aware of what was going on in his family with the rape of Tamar, but he did nothing. When Absalom was in exile, it took a plot by Joab to get David to allow his son to return to Jerusalem. But after an initial meeting David continued to ignore Absalom and his activities. Absalom was sowing seeds of rebellion for four years under David’s nose! He undoubtedly had to be aware of this but….did nothing. In all of these situations we see that ignoring problems, don’t make them go away.

David brings confusion to his armies when being chased by Absalom. When David left the city, it was like a funeral procession. Then, his instruction to the fighting men were “be gentle with the young man for my sake.” That is why there was hesitation to kill Absalom when the opportunity presented itself. This demonstrated a sudden attention and devotion to his son that David had not demonstrated in years.

David brings discouragement instead of celebration when Absalom’s rebellion is put down. The response of David in his grief to the news of Absalom’s death is as though he were killed in battle for an honorable cause. Perhaps this was David’s own response of guilt for his failure to “let things get out of hand.” David’s response did not allow there to be the call to unity and refortifying of his kingdom and this lead to the revolt of Sheba from the tribe of Benjamin, King Saul’s tribe.

At the root of all that took place we see David’s failure to lead consistently in obedience to the Lord and paying attention to what was happening in his own family. The result is that he, his family and the kingdom suffered. In the end God was faithful to David and maintained his reign. But David would face a challenging transition of power as he was about to die.

What problems or issues are you facing that need your attention and action? Remember, they will not “just go away.” Ask the Lord for wisdom and courage and pay attention to what is happening in your family and in those you lead.

We have had at least one more day of summer temperatures before returning to more normal spring days this week. After some office work and email correspondence, I did get to the fitness center for a workout. I actually got back to the swimming pool after a few months of absence from that routine. I found it interesting that I didn’t feel as strong swimming now as the last time when that was more a regular part of my routine. I guess I will have to get myself back into “swim condition.”

I believe I have mentioned in the past that my regular Bible reading routine involves reading in an Old Testament book, a New Testament Book and Psalms or Proverbs or one of the other books of poetry or prophecy. So there is usually something that catches my attention, that forms the basis for my devotional thoughts.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “I have sinned against the Lord,” David said. Nathan replied, “The Lord forgives you; you will not die. But because you have shown such contempt for the Lord in doing this, your child will die.”                  2 Samuel 12:13,14

David’s sin with Bathsheba is one of the most well known stories of the Bible. But in this failure of David are some lessons that are important for us all.

First of all, we see that David was in the wrong place at the wrong time. At this time, David was still young enough and strong enough to over see the battles of Israel. But for an unknown reason, he stays behind and sends out Joab to command the armies. David finds himself in the palace “at ease” and unguarded.

I recall leadership guru John Maxwell stating, “unseized time flows to the area of our weakness” or in this case, a lack of focus makes one vulnerable to temptation.

The Lord’s forgiveness was immediate. We do see David’s recorded prayer in Psalm 51, but in this passage when David openly confesses his sin, the pronouncement of forgiveness is immediate. Many struggle so much over whether or not God will forgive that they miss out on knowing God’s grace and mercy that is more readily available than we realize.  “People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13)

Forgiveness does not negate consequences. The child conceived by Bathsheba died. We see David knowing the Lord is merciful, praying and fasting for the child until that time came. The death of the child was the more immediate consequence but we see that was not the only consequence. Nathan, the prophet’s message to David was, “Now, in every generation some of your descendants will die a violent death because you have disobeyed me and have taken Uriah’s wife.” (2 Samuel 12:10)

Then we can observe the Lord’s gracious act of redemption.  Bathsheba became David’s wife and gave birth to a son, Solomon. Solomon became the successor to David’s throne. Under the reign of Solomon Israel experienced unprecedented peace and prosperity. Solomon was the wisest and wealthiest King of his day. When he was born the prophet Nathan, named Solomon, “Jedidiah.”  Jedidiah means “loved by God.”

We may stumble and fall and experience the consequences of actions, but hearts that are open to the Lord will find that He is there to forgive, restore and redeem.