2 Samuel 13:20-23 – “Then Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now keep silent, my sister, he is your brother; do not take this matter to heart.” So Tamar remained and was desolate in her brother Absalom’s house. ²¹ Now when King David heard of all these matters, he was very angry. ²² But Absalom did not speak to Amnon either good or bad; for Absalom hated Amnon because he had violated his sister Tamar.  ²³ Now it came about after two full years that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-Hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.”

As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, I was awakened to several things.  One was being overly tolerant of sin in Christians or those who profess Christ.

In 2 Samuel 13, we have the horrible story of Amnon raping his sister Tamar. In verses 21-23, three sins are revealed, each affecting not only the sinner but others as well.  Amnon’s act is obvious.  Then we see a second sin with an even broader impact. “When King David heard about all these things, he was very angry.”

That is good, but he did nothing.  He was the father and the civil authority.  Had he dealt with Amnon, Absalom could have been restored, the nation spared from being torn apart, and lives spared.  Then, Absalom’s hate. All affected many others.

Paul addressed the issue of excessive tolerance in the body in 1 Corinthians 5 and 6.  In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul addressed the issue of sexual immorality and in verse 2 said, “And you are puffed up!”

Over what?  Their claim of tolerance!  He goes on to admonish them, and in verses 6-7, he said, “Your boasting is not good.”  He continued his discourse and reminded them that their tolerance among those claiming to be followers of Christ was destructive and an insult to Christ and His sacrifice.

However, we must be cautious about becoming God’s fruit inspectors and going after everything and everyone we deem unacceptable.  1 Corinthians 4, reflecting on Chapter 3, Paul said, “Therefore do not judge anything before the time…”  Simply, let God be the judge of motives. You deal with actions!

If we turn a blind eye to sin in the church, especially sexual sin, we not only insult God, but we also damage the testimony of Christ and become stumbling blocks for the lost.

I am not suggesting that we go on a witch hunt and become, in our minds, God’s sin busters!  NO!  We deal with sin according to the Word of God with the goal of restoration in mind.

We have a world to reach, and if we allow blatant sin to thrive unchecked in the church, we destroy the church’s testimony and message.   If sexual sin is tolerated, what can be judged?   Then the church loses credibility and becomes an “anything goes” place with no consequences for actions.

1 Corinthians 6:9 – “Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?” In the context of the preceding verses, this focuses on sin in the church.

We want God’s power, and He wants purity. Power without purity of heart results in tyranny.

Lord, help us to be pure and surrender our entire being to You.

1 Samuel 30:6;18-20 – “Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. ¹⁸ So David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and rescued his two wives. ¹⁹ But nothing of theirs was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil, or anything that they had taken for themselves; David brought it all back. ²⁰ So David had captured all the sheep and the cattle which the people drove ahead of the other livestock, and they said, “This is David’s spoil.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, I was reminded of God’s goodness and the need for a pure heart to enjoy Him and hope in Him. In that, I’m always reminded to guard against self-deception.

In 1 Samuel 30:6, David and his band of misfits came home to discover that the Amalekites had raided and taken everything! Keep in mind that Amalek is a type of the flesh. His men got angry at David and wanted to stone him. Leadership has rewards, but also consequences, even when it is not your fault and beyond your control. Here we read, “But David strengthened himself in Adonai his God.” (Some render it encouraged. Either way, the question is, “How?”

If we review David’s life, we quickly realize it was by rehearsing his past victories, reminding himself of the Covenant, and praising God. He set the LORD before him. (Psalm 16:8).

The result is seen in the next few verses. He inquired of God. He acted on God’s directive. Then in verses 18-19 we find that David recovered EVERYTHING!

Romans 15:4 tells us that what was written aforetime was for our instruction. Therefore, God provided this account to give us a pattern for complete victory and full restoration.  David’s pattern would be a good pattern for us!  We have a world to win, an assignment to complete, a call to carry out. How do we achieve it? Romans 13:12-14 gives us the pathway to victory.

• Realize the hour and urgency.
• Take action in two directions:
• Put off the works of darkness.
• Put on the armor of light.

What does that look like? The answer is in verses 13-14.

• Stop yielding to the flesh.
• End carousing and drunkenness.
• Stop sexual impropriety.
• Stop envy and strife.
• Then, pursue Jesus.
• Stop making provisions for the flesh and focus on Jesus!

Let the Love of God fill our hearts and minds.  Romans 13:7-10 says that if Love fills our hearts, hate will not fill our hands.   We are each personally accountable for our actions.  All will stand before God.  No excuses will survive.  If we are overflowing in Love for God and others, “just as” Jesus loves, we will put off the flesh and put on the pure!  Victory is ours; let us take it! Make the choice and rejoice!

LORD, help us to receive the Total Recovery of Your Provision and Promise!

1 Peter 1:7 – “These trials will show that your Faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your Faith is far more precious than mere gold. So, when your Faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, I sensed the Holy Spirit drawing me to consider personal responsibility and accountability.   If we understand that nothing outside us can control us unless we allow it, we recognize the importance of responsibility and accountability.   It is a choice!  Every choice has consequences or benefits.   The choices we make set our direction, and our direction determines our destination.

I love the way 1 Peter begins.   Peter reminds us that we are chosen by the foreknowledge of God.   God looked down from eons past into our future, knew the path we would choose, and chose us.   Chosen for purpose. Then, he reminds us that we are set apart (sanctified) by the Holy Spirit for… that is important, “for obedience and for sprinkling with the blood of Jesus.”

In the first chapter of 1 Peter, we are brought face-to-face with our responsibility and accountability.   We are reminded that we do not walk this walk in human strength but by God’s grace, love, anointing, and power. 

In 1 Peter 1:7, we are reminded of the purpose of tests and trials.  We consider them a nuisance from the devil or a punishment from God without considering the larger purpose.  They reveal the “true metal of our faith.” Tested Faith is Faith that will not waver.

Faith that will carry us through difficulties, disappointments, and loss.   We stand strong because the trials have stripped from us all confidence in ourselves.   We look through them to Him! That is reconfirmed in 1 Peter 4:12-17.

If we are saved, Christ is IN us.   If Christ is IN us, we have something greater than any enemy.   If we have something IN us that can defeat anything outside of us, why do we blame circumstances, people, or hurts for our failures?    Christ IN us enables us to overcome.    So, our responsibility is to embrace what God has provided and live godly. God holds us accountable for embracing or neglecting that reality.

Christ IN us, WITH us, and THROUGH us ENABLES us to be victorious!   Choices are important because our direction determines our destination, and we choose our direction. Where do we want to go?

LORD, help us to accept our responsibility and accountability!

1 Samuel 18:7-9 – “The women sang as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”  ⁸ Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?” ⁹ Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, I was brought face-to-face with two truths desperately needed today.

• Open Doors, open doors.
• What makes Grace Grace is Grace.

Are you confused yet?   I hope not.  Open doors let things in, both good and bad.  For example, in 1 Samuel 18:7-8, King Saul opened the door to jealousy toward David, and through that door walked Fear, Hate, and Murder.  A seed sown produces much fruit.

Even in his corrupted state, King Saul (1 Samuel 19:18-24) encountered the power of the anointing and conviction.  No, he did not repent, but when he came into the presence of the anointing, he stripped off his clothes and prophesied.

There is symbolism in his act.  He removed his covering (identity) and sought to be clean before God.  It was a spirit-driven reaction, not a change of heart. Just because someone prophesies does not mean their heart belongs to God; it might simply be the presence of the anointing.  What reveals the heart is not what we do in church, but what we do in the marketplace.

What about the 2nd thing? What makes Grace Grace is Grace? Romans 11:6: “But if it is by Grace, it is no longer works; otherwise, grace would no longer be Grace.”

The evidence of our salvation is visible in our lives. If we persist in submitting to the flesh, we testify that God is secondary to us. If He is secondary, He is not LORD. If He is not LORD, we are not His.

Romans 8:5 reminds us that the unsurrendered life focuses on the flesh, the self, pleasure, etc. The focus is on self. The surrendered life focuses on God and takes steps to present our lives and actions to Him in ways that honor Him.

A drunk person told me, “I love Jesus!” Not according to Jesus.   He said, “If you love Me, keep my commandments.”   His commandments are not just His words but the inspired words of the Bible. “Be not drunk with wine (any intoxicant)…” We are told to shun the very appearance of evil. Living in adultery, using God’s name in vain, allowing hate, bitterness, and anger to prevail, and presenting an image that does not glorify God is not keeping His commandments.

Here is the beautiful thing.  If we come to Him in genuine repentance, He gives Grace! He transforms with our cooperation.

Romans 12:1-2 speaks of transformation. How are we transformed? A renewed mind! We become what we focus on. If we focus on our desires, hurts, pains, or pleasure, we conform to the flesh. If we focus on Jesus, we are transformed into His image and develop His character. Grace produces transformation by Grace. What makes Grace Grace is Grace!

Which will describe us?   Flesh or Spirit?  Heart or Hand?  Grace or Law?  The ball is in our court; Jesus is standing at the door waiting. Will we open the door and fully surrender, receiving transformation, or keep it closed and be conformed to the desires of the flesh? He has done His part; will we do ours?

LORD, help us to open the doors and receive the Grace we need!

Romans 6:12-14 – “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, ¹³ and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. ¹⁴ For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, I was stopped in my tracks regarding how seriously God regards obedience and trust.   Many seem to miss it and live like King Saul in self-deception, justifying and excusing sin. There is no justification or excuse!

Saul began right but drifted to the point of no return.   Romans 6:19 reveals something we need to embrace.   Acts of Sin produce more sin, and acts of righteousness produce more righteousness.

Romans 6:12-14 exposes the flawed view that even if we fall short somehow, God will still accept us.  If we surrender to the flesh, the flesh rules, and if the flesh rules, Satan rules.

Romans 6:2 exposes the reality that a person who claims to be transformed but continues in sin (yielding to the flesh) is an impossibility.  Whatever we yield to owns us.  We are either God’s or ruled by sin. We cannot be dead to sin and still yield to it.

Romans 6:12-14 brings our responsibility to the forefront.   Allowing sin to rule is a choice.   In verse 16, Paul forces us to face reality: “Do you not know that to whatever you yield yourself as slaves for obedience, you are slave s to what you obey-whether to sin resulting in death, or to obedience resulting in righteousness.”

It is a choice, and God wants the heart.  We dare not convince ourselves we love Him when we disobey Him repeatedly.  Romans 3:30 debunks the idea that because we know the Word, we are somehow excused.   That knowledge will become our judge! He knows that to do good and does it not; to him it is sin.

Romans 6:23 is a sobering passage. “For sin’s payment is death, but God’s gracious gift is eternal life in Messiah Yeshua our Lord.”  Too many excuse the first part and claim the second while living lives yielded to the flesh.  Be sure your sin will find you out! Make the choice to give all to Jesus, and His grace will transform. LORD, help us to avoid excuses and come before you honestly and openly