The law, grace and truth (15)

Father God, we thank you for the blessing of this Sunday morning. May Your Word quicken our hearts to receive every good and perfect gift that You have given us in Christ Jesus. We receive the blessing of the LORD that makes rich and adds no sorrow in the name of Jesus, Amen. Thank you LORD.

Lead Scripture is found in 2 Samuel 24:14 (NKJV)

"And David said to Gad, "I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man."

Amen, thank you LORD.

Right before this Word, we see God bringing punishment upon Israel and on David who took a census of the people of Israel without God's instruction. The LORD sent a prophet called Gad to David who brought the word of the LORD to the king, "I offer you three things; choose one for yourself, that I may do it for you. "...Shall seven years of famine come to you in your land? Or shall you flee three months before your enemies, while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days' plague in your land? Now consider and see what answer I should take back to Him who sent me." (2 Samuel 24:12-13). It is at this point that David responded with the above lead Scripture. David is known by God as a man after God's own heart and because He was known by God, God made him known to men. As a result, God raised David from a shepherd boy, to a king over his people and to blessing him with a kingdom that would be established forever through his descendants. By the grace of God, Jesus, the Son of God, comes from the lineage of David (Matthew 1). As God continued to raise David through different ranks, David never took his eyes off of God or lost sight of God's heart of mercy towards Him.

As much as David was a man after God's own heart, he had his own imperfections in the flesh just like every human. As God continued to raise David through different ranks, David never took his eyes off of God or lost sight of God's heart of mercy towards Him as seen in the above scenario.

Before the prophet brought the word of the LORD to David, it is important to recognize that David's heart had already convicted him of his own iniquity (2 Samuel 24:10). I'm always moved by David's response in the above lead Scripture where he chose to be under God's hand for He understood that the safest place he could be in was in God's presence. Psalm 91:1 reminds us, he/she who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

David not only knew that God, the Father was merciful but he also fully and completely trusted God in his heart. He did not allow his sin or iniquity to separate him from God. No wonder He would pray bold prayers to God. Friend, God is on your side. Even when things look bad regardless of whether it is your fault or not, fall into God's arms and receive His mercy and love for you. As we see, sin will always have consequences and the only person who is able to redeem us from the consequences of sin is the LORD God. Usually, the enemy wants you to feel condemned so as to turn you away from God but remember God is love (1 John 4:8) and His love conerning you will never fail (1 Corinthians 13:8). It is for this reason that we rely and fully trust God. The Psalmist prayed in Psalm 73:25 NKJV, "Whom do I have in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You."

I'll end with this Word found in 1 John 3:20 (NKJV)

"For if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things."

Amen, thank you LORD.

Invitation to salvation: God is love and He loves you and His arms are open wide just to receive you. Jesus in Matthew 18:12 says, that He would leave the ninety nine to go find that one lost sheep. There is no need for perfection because Jesus Christ was made to be perfection on your behalf by God, the Father. If you would like to receive this free gift of salvation that is found in God's Son, Jesus Christ, the hope of glory;

"I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and with God as my loving Father today and forever. Thank you Father that because the Son has made me free, I am now free indeed." AMEN.

HALLELUJAH, PRAISE GOD! YOU ARE OFFICIALLY A CHILD OF GOD. PLEASE FIND A CHURCH AND GET WATER BAPTIZED!