DAILY VIDEO DEVOTIONAL
There’s a price to being a man or woman of God. When we determine to be all God wants us to be, we must understand that with Him, there’s no cover-up. No sweeping our sins under the carpet. No hiding skeletons in the closet. His character is not only that of absolute purity, but also total knowledge. He knows. He loves. And He disciplines those He knows and loves.
Some Christian leaders have thought they could cover up their sins with their abilities or dynamic personalities. Some have thought that if they just did a good job, no one would ever suspect any impurities in their lives. But it never works that way. God has a way of exposing and dealing with sin in the lives of His people.
He doesn’t discipline us because He no longer loves us. Just the opposite. His discipline is because of His great love. He’s much more concerned about our character than our ministry — and often He will sacrifice our ministry to build our character. “The Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son” (Hebrews 12:6).
David thought he could cover up his sins of deception, adultery, and murder. But God, in His goodness, would not permit it. After David learned what had happened with Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, he attempted to act as a compassionate leader. He sent a message of comfort to the military leaders on the field. It was a perfect attempt at cover up. But there were several indicators that David had not yet repented.
First, he made no acknowledgement of his sin. Second, there was no grief in his soul over the horror of taking the life of a trusted soldier. Finally, he took Uriah’s wife as his own — as soon as her grieving period was over. Shamelessness. Deception. Lies. Cover-up. All were harbored in the secret corners of David’s heart.
David thought he was getting away with murder. But that’s impossible with God. The Scriptures say, “After the time of mourning was over, David had her [Bathsheba] brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the Lord” (2 Samuel 11:27). David may have been able to fool men, but he could never dupe God.
God knew what David had done, and it displeased Him. God loved David so much, He wouldn’t allow such horrendous sin to remain a part of his moral fiber. David would have to be confronted. Until he came to grips with the evil tucked away in his heart, David could never again be described as “a man after God’s own heart.”
Truth, honesty, and purity. Those were the character qualities God desired to build into David. Lies, deception, and spiritual pollution couldn’t remain in David’s heart if he was to be God’s man. The flesh had to be rooted out — and replaced by the fruit of the Spirit.
If you want to be a man or woman of God, you must be willing for God to expose anything that displeases Him. He is light, and darkness is always exposed and shattered by light. Live in the light. Embrace the light. It’s good for you!
2 Samuel : Chapter 11
16) So while Joab had the city under siege, he put Uriah at a place where he knew the strongest defenders were. 17) When the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, some of the men in David’s army fell; moreover, Uriah the Hittite died. 18) Joab sent David a full account of the battle. 19) He instructed the messenger: “When you have finished giving the king this account of the battle, 20) the king’s anger may flare up, and he may ask you, ‘Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn’t you know they would shoot arrows from the wall? 21) Who killed Abimelek son of Jerub-Besheth[b]? Didn’t a woman drop an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you get so close to the wall?’ If he asks you this, then say to him, ‘Moreover, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.’” 22) The messenger set out, and when he arrived he told David everything Joab had sent him to say. 23) The messenger said to David, “The men overpowered us and came out against us in the open, but we drove them back to the entrance of the city gate. 24) Then the archers shot arrows at your servants from the wall, and some of the king’s men died. Moreover, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.” 25) David told the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ‘Don’t let this upset you; the sword devours one as well as another. Press the attack against the city and destroy it.’ Say this to encourage Joab.” 26) When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. 27) After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the Lord.
Book of the Month
Sammy Tippit told his fiancée, “I can’t promise we’ll be rich, but life won’t be boring.”
Sammy had no idea what an understatement that would become. Beginning in the bars of Baton Rouge and the nightclubs of Chicago, Tippit has shared the news of life-changing faith in Christ all over the world – including in the middle of a revolution in Romania, the aftermath of genocide in Rwanda, and war in Burundi and the Congo.
Sammy’s lifelong adventure has come at a great price. He’s been cursed, threatened, arrested, deported, and blacklisted. He’s also been personally broken, ravaged with illness, and devastated by grief.
Yet he continues to preach to in stadiums, in open fields, and via satellite technology to hundreds of thousands around the globe. For all other books…
About Sammy Tippit Ministries
STM has been providing inspiration and help around the world for nearly 50 years. Sammy Tippit, founder and president, is a world renowned counselor, teacher and evangelist with experience serving and helping people in over 80 countries. Sammy provides materials that help people tackle a broad array of social, societal, psychological and spiritual issues. He is particularly passionate about making materials accessible to other countries around the world. Sammy is married to Debara “Tex” Tippit, and they have two children and five grandchildren.
Sammy Tippit Ministries is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization.
Contact: info@sammytippit.org
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