Main Verse: Psalms 118

Good morning!

            David, after the fall out from Bathsheba, the subsequent death of his son, and the attempted coup by Absalom, ran for his life  (2 Samuel 15); to make matters worse, Shimei threw stones at King David and cursed King David (2 Samuel 16:5-14).  King David had worked hard to build the kingdom, and David was faithful to the Lord despite Joab’s senseless shedding blood (2 Samuel 2:31-39). David’s love for the Lord and the Lord’s commands did not end when David sinned, it was the impetus for Psalms 118 (verse 22-24). In the same way when we came to the Lord for the first time and the Holy Spirit entered our hearts we coveted to follow Jesus Christ and to honor God’s commands and precepts (Exodus 20:1-10, 1 Corinthians 16:13-18, Romans 12:1-2).  Unfortunately, “Life happens” and we fall short of the Kingdom of God (Romans 3:22-23, Isaiah 30:19-22).

Our common enemy, the Devil, knows how to use our temptations against us just as beautiful women tempted David and pride tempted Peter (1 Corinthians 10:10-31, Mattew 26:31-35). When we sin and fall short of the glory of God, it is not the proverbial “Final nail in the coffin,” it is the start of a new chapter. It is easy to praise the Lord when life is at its best but, it is trial that we grow close to the Lord, because sin strips away everything that we had accept for our faith in the Lord. My encouragement for you today is, if you are going through trials and temptations, grow close to the Lord (James 4:8-10). Make it a point in your morning prayers to recommit yourself to the covenants you have made to the Lord and yourself because, “Today is the day the Lord has made …” (verse 24).

I.H.S.

MK