Do We Dare?

The subject of King David is an interesting one. The hopeless, seemingly resigned to defeat shell of a man we see today is far from the brazen warrior who killed Goliath. What happened?

Did God decide to punish David forever? Or did David never fully recognize the fact that God had forgiven him (regarding the murder of Uriah)?

Whatever the case, the David we are reading about today is nowhere near the man we read about a few days ago. How depressing!

Is there a lesson or an application of what I see here in my own life? Perhaps it is that I should accept God's forgiveness even if I must still live with the consequences of my previous actions. But at what point do I go against what seems like punishment and fight back? And how, at that time, do I know if I even have a right to fight back? After all, I did cause this, right?

I believe the point to it all is that Jesus Christ has given me thorough and complete forgiveness (once and for all). As far as what I deserve, well, in every case, in every situation, I deserve the worst punishment possible... but for the grace of God. Ah, the grace of God! Amazing grace - how sweet the sound!

The hard thing is to stand up against a just curse against us. Mankind is cursed - and our lives give plenty of reason for it - individually and corporately. But faith would have us believe Jesus paid the full penalty... but do we dare?

True faith would have it no other way!

Father, I believe I deserve the very worst punishment possible... but I believe Jesus has already paid the price in full. So, I thank YOU Almighty God Who has redeemed me from the curse! Help me now to live it out - to walk it out - and to pray it out like a free man!