Facing a worldwide pandemic, followers of Jesus are called to choose faith over fear, prayer over worry, generosity over hoarding, and loving others over self-preservation.

David saw Bathsheba and “took her” and revealed how vile our sinful nature can be. But as serious as it was, David knew where to go with his guilt. Back to the presence of God.

In a world of credit scores and progress reports, we quickly learn that we only get what we earn. But the Bible tells us that Abram was “credited” as righteous, not out of performance but by believing God.

King David desired to show kindness to anyone left from Saul’s house and it was more than just him being nice or sweet. David embodied God's lovingkindness (the Hebrew word is hesed) because he had been enmeshed by it, immersed in it, and enthroned because of it.

And the only way we can build anything for God is because He first built something for us, which helps us see that our obedience is a response to His promise, not the way to earn it.

A Message from Curtis Forman

We have to see God for who He is. He’s a strong father, a worthy legislator, a fair judge, a gracious king, a God who is bigger than you and me. And that’s a good thing.

It feels like David’s story should have been edited for the viewing audience. Yet God uses people that we never would, to accomplish His promises that we never could.

The prophet Isaiah said God’s people were known for their religious observation of fasting, but they were doing it for the wrong reason and with the wrong motive. They looked sincere, but their piety was nothing more than slick veneer covering an ugly condition, where they tried to use God, without being used by Him.

Without God's presence, we're not really God's people. That's why Moses said to the Lord, "if your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here" and why Isaiah petitioned the Lord, to "rend the heavens and come down." His presence is still what we need most.