“TEMPTATION STRIKES!”

by | Mar 3, 2009 | 2 Samuel

2 Samuel 11:1-3a

“In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her.”

All too often we hear the tragic news that someone has left their husband or wife for another. Believe me when I say that this did not happen in a single day. The offending party did not wake up one morning and decide to give their heart to another person. It was a process.

We once had a new house built. A friend of mine urged me to do my own wiring. He said he knew all about it and together we would get it done and save quite a bit of money.

We proceeded with that plan with one “minor” factor. My friend who talked me into this left town on an extended business trip and I was on my own. I muddled my way through stringing the wires from the power box to each room. As I was starting to install the plug and switches, another well-meaning friend said I should install the plugs and switches “hot.”

I should have known what was coming, but I proceeded. Installing “hot” means that the power is turned on and, by carefully attaching the live wires, you can test to see if you have done it right without having to go back and forth to the power box.

It was not long before I had my first shock. I mean that literally! Jolt! I jumped as I realized that my finger had touched negative and positive leads accidentally. Such shocks do not kill you (evidently) but they sure grab your attention.

It is too bad that we cannot have such warnings in the area of our relationships. Warnings can be given about danger looming ahead, but like sheep led to the slaughter, couples begin flirting with their eyes, making suggestive comments, touching the other’s hand, being overly polite and—well, you know the score.

It all began in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve looked longingly at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The more they looked longingly at that forbidden fruit, the better it looked. Because of their preoccupation with the forbidden fruit, the serpent had easy prey and they succumbed to temptation.

In today’s Scripture, David was not where he should have been. As the King of Israel he should have been leading his army, not ogling Bathsheba from his balcony. No one is exempt from God’s demand for moral purity.

In contrast to David was Joseph. He was tempted in many different ways, but he never placed himself in compromising situations. It was only by subterfuge and deceit that he was falsely accused.

I will spend at least one more day on this delicate subject. In preparation for tomorrow’s Daily-E-Votional please read Genesis chapter 39.

Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!

– – – Pastor Cecil

“IF ONLY!”

by | Mar 2, 2009 | Romans

Romans 13:8-10

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not covet,’ and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

Perhaps you have heard the story of two men who shared the same hospital room. One of them was paralyzed and had been moved into a room occupied by a cheerful man whose bed was next to the window. Throughout the day he would carry on a colorful description of what he saw outside their window.

At first it blessed the man in traction who could only imagine the sight the man by the window was enjoying: fluffy clouds, children playing, lovers holding hands and birds in the trees. However he soon resented that he was not able to see what the other man saw. He became sullen and mean-spirited. Inwardly he hoped the man would die so he could be placed near the window.

Unfortunately that is what happened. The man by the window suffered a heart attack and they rushed him to the emergency room. A few hours later the nurse told the paralyzed man that his roommate had died. He asked her if she would mind moving his bed next to the window and prop him up so he could be the one who enjoyed all of the wonderful sights.

The nurse looked perplexed, but moved his bed near the window, raised him up and opened the blinds. There in front of him was a brick wall and nothing more. His roommate had created beautiful, but imaginary scenes to entertain him.

For the past few days my heart has been heavy with the burden of broken vows. We observe broken vows in marriages, on the job, between friends but especially in our commitment to the Lord.

Over the years I have served as counselor and friend to countless individuals who have suffered the fractured relationships. It is almost as if they stagger in the door and pour out their heartbreak begging me to help them.

As I listen to these hurting people describe their problems to me, it is evident that their life, as well as others, suffered because someone desired something they did not possess. “If I only had – – – – -I would be content. I will address this subject in more detail in the next few days.

Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!

– – – Pastor Cecil