First Christian Church of Plainville
If your life was a book, how would it read? That is the question Pastor Brian asked this week in our video service from Chapter 12 of The Story. Would your book be a story of commitment, a story of failed promises, a story of comebacks, or a story of change?
David, “a man after God’s own heart,” is one of the great men of the Bible. You might think that his book would be one of great stories of success, leadership, and commitment. But as we read in 2 Samuel 11-12, 18-19, not all of David’s story is a pretty picture.
After ascending to king of Judah, you would have thought that David had it all together. His was a story of rising from a shepherd boy to great warrior who defeats Goliath. His is a story overcoming almost certain death at the hands of King Saul. But just like you and I, David was not perfect. He had weakness just as we do.
In a moment of boredom, David makes a critical error in judgment when he calls for a married woman, Bathsheba, sleeps with her, and she becomes pregnant. And to top it off, David ultimately leads to the death of Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah the Hittite, by ordering him to the front line of a fierce battle where he is killed. David’s story has now changed.
Just as with David, our book is written the daily in the seemingly insignificant events of our lives. Decisions we make each day, whether in boredom, at work, at play, or when alone, are important. What do some of these poor decisions lead to? We may be compared to a tree that seemingly looks good on top, but is gradually rotting away in the roots. Eventually it leads to death.
The good news is you can change that. David’s story, and your story, need to be God’s story. Jesus can take those broken pieces and put them back together. Jesus can cut away those rotting roots and give you new life. Just as David was led to redemption, so can you. It starts with a relationship.
You build a relationship with God by reading and studying the Bible. You build a relationship by not only reading the Word, but doing what it says. Look for ways that you can put the Word into practice daily. Then, and only then, that book that is your life’s story can take a turn in the right direction. A turn in God’s direction.
Continue to pray for the end of our current national crisis and the day that we will be able to come back together as a congregation.
