2 Samuel 4-7 Growth and Blessing

April 6th, 2 Samuel 4-7

       God's mercy in our growth sometimes happens this way...I've always wondered what would happen if God was to reveal to us sometime all the ways that we fall short. What if we suddenly felt conviction about every wrong part of our lives. I think that it's God grace that he begins to work on us piece by piece. As we go along with the program we begin to think different, act different, look at life different and by that grace our lives begin to reflect God more and more.
       Each of those interactions can come as a relief, or a challenge, or as a revelation that stings for awhile. Sometimes it's a relief because we've decided to drive down the wrong side of the highway, but no one ever told us or we never saw that there was a right side of the highway. When we got there we were amazed at how much better things were. Some times we have to face a revelation from a friend, sermon or God's word that reminds us we are dead wrong and need to make a new choice to find the abundant life God promises.
       Sometimes like David today, there comes a challenge to rethink something. David finds a city, David goes to great lengths to build himself a house. Not just any house, but a king's house. God has blessed him with rest from his enemies and now a retreat, a place to call home. It's a lot more pleasant than the caves he has spent time in. But sometimes in the middle of life there comes a conviction. Something that says, this probably isn't right, there's probably something I'm missing. These are good moments of growth for us. Pay attention to them and see where they lead.
       For David it led to asking the question... Why do I live in a house when the ark of God lives in a tent? I've been there, it's one of those moments when you think to your self, maybe I should have thought about that first instead of second. A moment of growth, a moment to inquire of the Lord and see what he wants, a moment of conviction, apology, restoration, and moving in, on the park bench of life, to sit just a little closer to God.
       It's on this park bench of life that God reveals his best stuff, don't just wave to him from the other side of the park, come take a seat...enjoy the connection!