The Tree Church Daily

Exodus 23:1-9 (ESV)

“You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice, nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his lawsuit.

“If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him.

“You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in his lawsuit. Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent and righteous, for I will not acquit the wicked. And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of those who are in the right.

“You shall not oppress a sojourner. You know the heart of a sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.”

Explanation:

This passage expands on the ninth commandment (Exodus 20:13): “Don’t lie about your neighbor.” Welcome to October 2020. As much as I try to shield myself from news and propaganda outlets, I’m still surrounded by people, political figures especially, spreading lies against the character of others. The scripture says that when we do this, we are walking hand in hand with the wicked. That’s a walk I don’t want to take. As people seek to gain power, they often find the easiest way to do so is to say something horrible (and not true) about their opponent. This passage reminds us that we must be careful to discern truth from lies, and not fall into the way of the wicked.

This scripture also focuses on justice, and justice comes from truth. If the truth is twisted, so is justice. We must seek God constantly so we can see what is true. Lies can be “dressed up” and justified, so that we believe the lie is accomplishing some greater good when we allow it to happen. Truth should be impartial regardless of whether we are rich or poor, truth should prevail. Regardless of who is being accused, who is being the judge, and who we like or don’t like, we must tell the truth. The justice we seek operates under the ultimate Judge, our God. We must consistently keep the truth from being twisted, and not take that walk with the wicked.

Application:

1. Can you think of a time in your life when you believed it would be better to tell a lie than the truth? How did you feel afterward?

2. Sometimes when we see something happen to our enemy (or someone who is “bad”), we can think that they “deserved” what happened to them. Re-read today’s passage. (“If you meet your enemy’s ox…you shall rescue it”). What does that say about how we should behave in these situations?

3. Is there something that stands out to you in today’s scripture?

Devo Plus:

Take some time and reflect on the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20. How do they speak to your life today?

Prayer:

Today in your quiet time, ask God to help you be truthful in all that you do; ask Him to help you see the truth when you are in a world full of lies and deception. Pray that you will always walk in His path, and not be led astray with the wicked.

Psalm 112:4-8 (NLT)

Light shines in the darkness for the godly. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous. Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly.

Such people will not be overcome by evil. Those who are righteous will be long remembered. They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.

Explanation:

Psalm 112 describes the characteristics of a blessed person. If you are unhappy with your life, it is safe to say that Psalm 112 is the perfect roadmap to having a wonderful life. The first thing you see in this passage is generosity and its rewards described. You can mentally see and feel the relaxed disposition of the generous person, who freely gives and trusts God. It is a unique miracle that happens to benevolent people. They become serene and confident.

I personally had the honor of being raised by such a person...my dad. In 50 years of pastoring, I watched as he modeled a life of giving and believing…from our everyday lives as he fed the hobos who frequented our front porch…to his pastoral life where he built new church buildings, led churches out of a former pastor's debt, and taught us and the churches he pastored to freely give to missionaries. He actually retired and spent a very large part of his retirement nest egg building and establishing a new church in a town that needed the gospel. His relaxed confidence in God's provision was in stark contrast to selfishness.

Children are great observers of the actions and reactions of the adults in their lives. Time and time again, I watched him give all he had, only to see God fully re-supply what Dad needed in his next step of faith. I could write many stories of how dad’s generosity was a light that shined bright for others to see. It left a profound mark on my heart, and made it easy for me to step into the same model of living, because “I was trained in the way I should go” (Proverbs 22:6).

We are living in a dark world. To have light in the darkness is a special blessing reserved for us who believe in God and trust Him. If we submit our hearts to His desire, we are transformed into magnanimous, fair, overcoming, confident, and fearless people.

Application:

1. Some great attributes were listed in our reading today! (being a light, generous, compassionate, righteous, good business sense, fair, victorious, not worried, trusting God explicitly, confident and fearless) Which do you long for? God fills longing. All are great things to yearn for!

2. Do you WANT the life described in our passage? Goals matter in life, and “wanting” is the first step of any goal.

3. Contrast today’s passage with 2 Timothy 3:1-5. Do you want a Psalm 112 life or a 2 Timothy 3 life? The choice is yours, and it begins with generosity.

Devo Plus:

Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-8.

Prayer:

So let it be Lord. Deliver me from selfishness and its accompanying traits. Tenderize my heart and change my views on being generous. Deliver me from grasping and keeping, and produce giving and sharing in their place. I love You and Your ways, and want to be led into all truth.

1 Chronicles 29:1-9 (MSG)

Then David the king addressed the congregation: “My son Solomon was singled out and chosen by God to do this. But he’s young and untested and the work is huge—this is not just a place for people to meet each other, but a house for God to meet us. I’ve done my best to get everything together for building this house for my God, all the materials necessary: gold, silver, bronze, iron, lumber, precious and varicolored stones, and building stones—vast stockpiles. Furthermore, because my heart is in this, in addition to and beyond what I have gathered, I’m turning over my personal fortune of gold and silver for making this place of worship for my God: 3,000 talents (about 113 tons) of gold—all from Ophir, the best—and 7,000 talents (214 tons) of silver for covering the walls of the buildings, and for the gold and silver work by craftsmen and artisans.

“And now, how about you? Who among you is ready and willing to join in the giving?”

Ready and willing, the heads of families, leaders of the tribes of Israel, commanders and captains in the army, stewards of the king’s affairs, stepped forward and gave willingly. They gave 5,000 talents (188 tons) and 10,000 darics (185 pounds) of gold, 10,000 talents of silver (377 tons), 18,000 talents of bronze (679 tons), and 100,000 talents (3,775 tons) of iron. Anyone who had precious jewels put them in the treasury for the building of The Temple of God in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite.

And the people were full of a sense of celebration—all that giving! And all given willingly, freely! King David was exuberant.”

Explanation:

In the prior passage, David had called all the leaders of Israel together, anyone who held responsible positions in the kingdom. Being the great, obedient leader he was, David shared the commands that God had set for David’s son Solomon. Solomon was a young king, and would be leading the way to build a temple, a dwelling place for God. David presented this to the group he had assembled, and led the way with what he contributed. His heart completely aligned with God’s will, and he turned over his savings, his retirement if you will. This was an act of trust and obedience to God, by showing he didn’t rely on the possessions he had, and the splendor of God was greater than the most extravagant treasures. David then called upon the fellow leaders of the kingdom to do the same, to give from their hearts for the house of the Lord. They gave willingly, with excitement, and God blessed them with a peace that was celebratory, not of doubt or anxiousness.

God had placed David as king because David continued to keep his heart aligned with God’s. He was a champion for God, and obedient to His will. This included his time, his finances, his talents…all of him. He recognized that God entrusted him with all of those things, and when God asked him for them, David was excited to do so. Everything we have…family, finances, friends, homes, cars, time, and talents…are designed by God, and can look very different when we look at them as God’s possessions and not our own.

Application:

1. Do you fret or feel anxious about the resources you have? Are you holding back from being generous because you feel a lack of abundance?

2. When you look at things around you, what do you see? What are you responsible for? Make a list of all the things God has entrusted to you.

3. When looking at this list, do you feel deeply connected to any of them? If God wanted any of them, would you be able to walk in obedience to the call?

4. Take some time to release all you have completely to God. Ask Him to use you as a tool for His kingdom with what He has entrusted you.

Devo Plus:

Read Matthew 6:19-21.

Prayer:

God, thank You for trusting me with so much. Thank You for Your abundant generosity. Guide my heart in the ways You want me to use my time, my talents, my finances. Help me to give all of myself willingly to the works of Your Kingdom. Amen.

2 Corinthians 7:8-10 (NLT)

I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

Explanation:

“Sorry, not sorry” is a common phrase used it today’s culture. What I don’t think we realize is that Paul used this phrase thousands of years before savvy speakers of our time ever thought of it. Paul used some pretty harsh reprimands when he wrote to the church after visiting Corinth to try to get the Christians back on track (2 Corinthians 2:1). He initially was worried the Christians would be angry at his harsh tone, but then decided they needed to hear things in a straightforward way and confrontationally to expose their sin. He was relieved they felt sorry when they heard his words, and that their sorrow turned them to repentance.

There’s a difference between today’s “sorry, not sorry” words, and how Paul used them in his day. He pointed out that the sorrow he inflicted by his words was done in a way NOT to cause the people harm, but to make them sorry in a “godly manner.” In other words, he was honest, he told the truth in love, and he didn’t try to make them sorry in a way to cause them to turn away from God. He emphasized that their sorrow—godly sorrow—is different than that of the world; worldly sorrows produce death, but godly sorrow is “not to be regretted” because it produces repentance and eternal life. When we seek repentance God’s way, we are free to live with no regrets!!

Application:

1. Are there things you are holding onto that cause you to have regret? Don’t wait another minute! Ask God to take those things from you, and genuinely ask for His forgiveness!

2. What stood out to you in this passage? Was it Paul’s bold statement of “sorry, not sorry,” or something else?

3. How is Paul’s posture of “sorry, not sorry” different than how culture uses the phrase today? Which way is the right way?

Devo Plus:

There are several scriptures that address regret and releasing it (or not having it): Philippians 3:13-15; Isaiah 43:18-19; Micah 7:18-19; Psalm 103:12

Prayer:

Ask God to posture your heart so that when you are remorseful or have regret, you seek Him in a manner He will receive, using it to change your entire being. Ask Him to use you in a way to help others who may be struggling with regret, so you may be a light to them in their time of need.

Psalm 38:4, 17-18 (ESV)

For the iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever before me. I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.

Explanation:

Psalm 38, written by David, is titled ‘Do Not Forsake Me, O God’ in the ESV. David is so overwhelmed with the guilt of his sin, it feels like the world is coming down on him. The burden is so heavy he does not want to deal with it any longer, or even think of it. I feel like he is crying out, releasing what is killing him on the inside. And we all know that feeling, don’t we?

David had such a close relationship with God, yet even he struggled with feeling shame from his sin. It is crazy to read these words from David, the man after God’s heart. It helps me to see him this way, that he felt such a heavy burden when he messed up. He had real-life iniquities, just like the real-life struggles you and I have daily. He is so torn up about his actions, thoughts, and behaviors. I picture him yelling, screaming out to God to take these heavy sins that he may have brought on himself.

I personally don’t yell out to God enough. I read this and get so pumped up about being on this kind of level with God. But then I think about it…and get sidetracked with life, family, friends, work, hobbies, etc. I want to be a disciple daily. A disciple that is on fire and yells for help when I need it, and praises God through everything. I want to be able to sit still, listen, and then move when He tells me to move. Maybe we all should spend more time on our knees with the God who can carry our burdens. The same God who turned water into wine wants us to yell out to Him so He can meet us with an outstretched hand. We all have burdens, but the real question is…are you sorry for your sin, and are you ready to yell?

Application:

1. What sin in your life are you feeling the weight of?

2. Why are you holding on to the guilt of that sin?

3. Do you yell/cry out to God? Why or why not?

4. Hardest question so far……Are you truly sorry for your sin?

Devo Plus:

Take 30 minutes and find a quiet place to sit with God. Spend some time asking God for forgiveness for your sins. Ask God to reveal anything you might be holding on to and feeling shame for, then lay it at His feet.

Prayer:

God, thank You for today. Thank You for all the blessings You pour out on us continually. Thank You for loving us, even though we sin every day and sometimes fall away from You. Guide us this week to be more like You, to sit down and listen to what You need us to hear and what You need us to do. Show us and teach us to be more aware of the sin in our lives. Help us to cry out to You. Show us where we need to change. Lord, bless our week, and teach us how to be a blessing to the people around us. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

Psalm 34:18 (NIV)

The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Explanation:

This verse literally says that the Lord is at hand, close like a neighbor. He is close to those crushed in thought and heart, remorseful in their hearts and minds. He is waiting to rescue us and set us free. This verse is a promise that God is not only close, but quick to forgive us and set us up to walk in freedom as soon as we ask Him.

We’ve been looking at the character of David, particularly for what would warrant him the gracious title of “man after God’s heart.” Of the many things we see about David’s character, one stands out. Whenever he fell, as we all do, his next step was always a remorseful heart, and that took him straight to God’s feet, straight to repentance. It was as if David’s heart couldn’t bear the weight of being distant from God. He couldn’t stand the thought of something being between them.

In the beginning of my relationship with Jesus, I used to distance myself from God when I felt I had done something wrong. The thought was logical to me…I had gone against what Jesus wanted, so I should give Him time to be mad at me. People want distance, so surely God does, too. But that was because I didn’t understand the audacity of grace, and I’ll forever be growing in awe of it. God is love. He is grace. He is not fickle like us. His desire is unity, oneness, completeness in love. God knows that He is what’s best for us. He never hides from our sin but is close at hand, waiting for the day our hearts are repentant so He can offer us rescue.

Application:

1. Truth to remember this week: God is always at hand. Repentance clears the air of a remorseful heart, so Jesus can right what is broken, and we can sense His closeness once again. It is what He longs to do.

2. Take some time to be quiet before God. Like David, ask God to search your heart, find any wicked way, and lead you in the way everlasting. As the Spirit puts a finger on areas that need repentance, jump wholeheartedly, and know that He is with you every step that you walk out.

Devo Plus:

• Read the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32. Remember that when we feel so distant, so dirty, or so far gone…the Father is right there to hold us and restore us. It’s why He sent his Son!

• Also read Psalm 147:3 and Isaiah 57:15.

Prayer:

Father, You are the best. To say thank You for all You are and all You’ve done will never seem like enough. Thank You for being love through and through, and that all You do is done in love. Help us to remember all that’s needed to restore our relationship with You is a remorseful and repentant heart. Thank You for always being near to us, waiting. Help us to be quick in our repentance. In Jesus’s precious name. Amen.

Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV)

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Explanation:

Psalm 139 is a hymn written by King David. Throughout this psalm, he is reminding everyone that God knows everything going on in your life. There is nowhere you can go that God won’t be there. David asks God to search his thoughts and heart, for God to “search” and “know” anything in his heart that would eventually lead him to grief. Once David knows what is causing grief, he can get rid of it and start walking toward God. David always went back to God. When he was confronted with his sin, he would go to God and ask God to forgive him.

When was the last time you sat down and quietly asked God to search your heart? When have you asked Him to point out anything that would cause grief in His eyes? I know this sounds scary; maybe there are things you think are hidden, and God won’t find out about. The truth is, God knows everything. There isn’t anything you can hide from Him. No matter what, He is calling you to get rid of it, to give it to Him. Start running toward Him, knowing that He loves you and wants the best for you.

There have been times in my life when worry and fear have gripped me, especially in this season we have been in. Without God, fear and worry overwhelmed my thoughts and life. One morning, God was reminding me that I need to take time to come to Him with my worry and fear…to trust that He is in the middle of every situation and wants to go through life with me. Situations didn’t always change, but He gave me peace. Choose to walk with God through life. Trust Him when He shows you things to change, and work with Him to change those things.

Application:

1. What thing are you keeping from God? (worry, fear, sins)

2. What has God asked you to give to Him that you keep holding onto?

3. Why won’t you let go of the thing you are holding from God?

4. What sin are you trying to cover up that should be given to God? What do you think will happen when you give it to God? Do you think He will restore areas of your life?

Devo Plus:

Turn on the worship song “First Love” by Kari Jobe. Ask God to search your heart and show you what He wants to help you with.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, search my heart today. Help me realize how much You know me and love me. Show me the worries, fears, anxiety, and sin that would cause me grief. Help me give them to You, and choose to follow You today.

1 Chronicles 21:1, 7-8, 13-17 (ESV)

Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.

But God was displeased with this thing, and he struck Israel. And David said to God, “I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”

Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is very great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man. ”So the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel, and 70,000 men of Israel fell. And God sent the angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, but as he was about to destroy it, the Lord saw, and he relented from the calamity. And he said to the angel who was working destruction, “It is enough; now stay your hand.” And the angel of the Lord was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. And David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, and in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. And David said to God, “Was it not I who gave command to number the people? It is I who have sinned and done great evil. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand, O Lord my God, be against me and against my father's house. But do not let the plague be on your people.”

Explanation:

In these verses, we see David sin against God by counting the number of men in Israel. It doesn’t seem like this would be something wrong to do, but the people of Israel belonged to God, not to David. David shouldn’t have counted them as his own, and knew this. He was very distressed once he did this, and knew God was displeased with him. What a terrible feeling, to know you have gone against something that God desires. It would have been an option for David to keep moving forward with what he wanted. Instead, as we’ve seen before with David, he recognizes his sin and turns to God.

When David repents, God allows him to choose which consequence he will have. They all sound like terrible options, but David chooses pestilence on the land, with the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the territory of Israel, because he recognizes that the Lord’s mercy is very great. God does destroy many men of Israel, but David cries out for mercy when the angel of the Lord is about to destroy Jerusalem. David again pleads that it is HIS sin that has caused this harm, and asks God to bring the punishment against himself rather than his sheep, the people of Israel. God, like we’ve seen so many times before, responds with mercy for both David and the people of Israel.

Application:

1. How do you respond when you know you have sinned, or feel convicted that you have sinned?

Is your first response to turn to God in repentance, or do you try to justify your sin?

2. Do you feel like there are areas in your life where you are sinning, and God is convicting you of these areas? What do you think God desires for you to do?

3. What is your response when there are consequences for your sin? Do you accept it, or try to find a way to blame others?

4. Can you remember a time in your life when you went to God in repentance? How did God respond to you?

Devo Plus:

Read 1 John 1:9. Meditate on the truth of this verse. Remind yourself daily that we serve a merciful and gracious God who desires for us to bring our sin to Him. He desires to help us change and become more like Him.

Prayer:

God, if I’m not already aware, please expose areas in my life where I need to confess my sin, and help me to have a repentant heart. I am so very grateful that I serve a God who has made a way for me to be forgiven. Help me in the areas where I struggle. Help me to always have a soft heart toward You, and to always be willing to be molded by You. Thank You for loving me so deeply and faithfully.

Psalm 51:1-4, 10-12 (ESV)

Have mercy on me, O God,

according to your steadfast love;

according to your abundant mercy

blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

and cleanse me from my sin!

For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is ever before me.

Against you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight,

so that you may be justified in your words

and blameless in your judgment.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from your presence,

and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Explanation:

David’s friend Nathan confronts him with the sins he had committed. David had committed adultery and murder. This psalm is David’s response after he has been confronted. Instead of getting defensive or angry, David responds in humility. He recognizes that he messed up. He not only had sinned against others; he ultimately had sinned against God. David feels remorse for what he had done. But instead of staying in guilt and shame, he seeks God. He cries out to God for mercy and a cleansing, and then asks God to help him change. He wants to be made right, clean, and new. David knows the best response to his sin is always to seek the grace, mercy, and forgiveness of God. David knows there would be consequences, but God would always extend grace and love to him. God takes David’s prayer and changes him, making David new and restoring the broken pieces.

The same is true for all of us. When we sin, when we mess up, this should be our response as well. We recognize our sin, and then we seek God to help us. Coming face to face with our sin is always hard; it’s easy to get defensive or make excuses. But just like David, we can respond with humility instead. When we recognize our sin and seek God in the middle of it, He alone can change us. God wants to meet us in our sin and brokenness. God wants us to seek Him when we mess up, because He wants to change our hearts and our behavior. When we come to God with all our sin, all our shame, all our brokenness…He redeems us, He restores us, He makes us new. May our prayer be like David’s, that God would have mercy on us, and He would then restore us and create a clean and pure heart in us once again.

Application:

1. What stood out to you in today’s passage?

2. David responded to conviction by immediately seeking God. When you are convicted by others, what is your typical response? Why?

3. Why is it important to seek repentance and God’s forgiveness when we sin?

4. How does seeking God in our sin change us?

Devo Plus:

What area of sin in your life do you need God’s mercy and grace? I encourage you to take some time in prayer to not only seek God’s mercy and grace, but also to pray like David. Ask God to cleanse you and help you overcome that sin. Ask God to restore you and make you new.

Prayer:

God, we recognize that all of us mess up. Sin is something we will deal with for the rest of our lives. But we are asking today for Your help. When we mess up and come face to face with our sin, will You help us? Help us to be humble and to recognize our sin, but then to always seek Your grace and forgiveness. And when we do, will You then restore us, make us new, and help us overcome? God, we know that only You can help us accomplish this. We thank You in advance for Your grace and guidance through it all. Amen.

2 Samuel 12:1-9, 13 (ESV)

And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”

Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus, says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. And I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.

David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.

Explanation:

If you have ever sat across from someone and had them look you in the eyes and tell you that a behavior you were doing was not godly, you know how gut wrenching that can be. I have some amazing family and friends who have had these conversations with me before, and I would agree with the writer of Hebrews, “For the moment, all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant” (Hebrews 12:11). I have a people-pleasing mentality that can take over at times, and I dread the thought of ever disappointing, frustrating, or upsetting someone. It’s all rooted in a heart that has been wounded by rejection during past seasons of my life, and for that reason, I would rather avoid confrontations like these altogether. However, when I have experienced them, although painful at first, they were necessary to produce fruit in my life in the long run.

Please know, my friends, we should not be so arrogant to think we will never be in need of God’s correction. We need God’s correction. Let me say it again, we NEED God’s correction. Personally, without those tough conversations, I wouldn’t have seen the impact my sinful behavior was creating in my life and the lives of others. Most importantly, in order for these conversations to really be productive, there are two key ingredients that have to be present to produce fruit in your life. First, you must have a proper fear of God, and second, you must have a humble heart. Without these two necessary parts, correction will be even more difficult to take, and spiritual growth can be stunted. Read back through David’s response to Nathan. David’s heart was primed with these two things, and his response communicates that. David specifically responds that he has sinned “against the Lord,” which points to a deep concern for that relationship. His response wasn’t, “Nathan, you have now destroyed my reputation,” or “Nathan, you have wounded me.” His response was “look at what I have done to hurt God’s reputation and wound Him.” Very powerful thought, my friends. I can’t say that I have always been so mature to respond this way. How about you? How have or do you respond when God brings correction into your life?

Application:

1. Describe a time when you have been confronted by God or someone else about sin in your life.

2. What is your typical response to correction?

3. Why do you think you respond in this way?

4. Why is it necessary to have a proper fear of God and a humble heart when receiving correction?

5. How can you grow in these two things?

Devo Plus:

Read Hebrews 12:11. According to this passage, what does discipline produce in our lives?

Prayer:

God, I know that discipline and correction are necessary for growth in my life. Like David, I want to have a heart where wanting to honor You is my first priority. Please forgive me for times when I have not been open to Your correction, and help me to endure the unpleasantness that can come when I do receive correction. I know sin brings death to my relationship with You and others, and I do not want to live a life of death but of life in the Spirit. Thank You for lovingly correcting me when I need it.