In the Bible is contained the story of David and Bathsheba. In it, the King sees in the distance a girl taking a bath on her house's roof, which was normal because it was the warmest place in the house and where the water was stored... I explain this just in case anyone wants to defend David by attacking Bathsheba. David who, ignoring that David was taking a tour on the roof of the Palace when he was supposed to be in battle. The King sees the girl, wants her, ask to have her brought to his presence and had sexual relations with her. When she tells the King that she is pregnant, David builds a plan to make Uriah, her husband, come from the battlefield, sleep with Bathsheba his wife and make him think that the baby was his. Uriah didn't agree... Even after David had him drunk... So drunk Uriah is more honest than King David... Uriah asks to return to battle and David agrees, but not before handing him a note in which the King ask to have him placed in the front of the battle to have him killed by the enemy. When Uriah is killed in battle, David takes Bathsheba as his wife. With friends like these, who needs enemies?
After a while, David is interestingly confronted by the prophet Nathan. I encourage you to read it in 2 Samuel 11. The prophet says the story about a very rich man who has many sheep and cows, and how it robs a poor man's only sheep. This is David's response:
2 Samuel 12:5-7a (NIV)
5So great was David's anger against the man, he said to Nathan: "As surely as the Lord liveth, that whoever did this deserves to die!" 6How could do something so mean? Now pay four times the value of the sheep! 7Then Nathan said to David: "You are the man!"
The Prophet's response was devastating for David. David was in SELF-DENIAL. The power, ambition, leisure, had managed to confuse David and was easy prey to temptation... and having committed sin... David enters a very common practice among us: SELF-DENIAL.
Can you recognize this phrases? "Me fat? I've lost 5 pounds"... "I'm not in love with that man, what happens is that he is a great counselor"... "I'm not a gossiper, I only alert people when I see something bad happening"... "I'm not criticizing, I'm just giving my opinion"... "I don't sit to pray, but I pray all day"... "I see things differently"... "I believe in God in my own way"... SELF-DENIAL.
Beginning of transformation is confession. Until you move beyond the fog of self-denial, the transformation you desire won't start.
David's story doesn't end in SELF-DENIAL. It ends with King David lying on the ground repented. Hence the following Psalm:
Psalm 51:4 (NIV)4 I have sinned against thee, only against you, and done what is evil in your sight, so that, your judgment is right, and your judgment, unimpeachable.
It is in the middle of confession that the transformation begins. David confessed and immediately God extends grace, loves, delivers him, raised him up, makes him grow and transforms David.
Today, run away from SELF-DENIAL. Confess those good things in you and start using it for the benefit of the Kingdom of God, but above all, confess what's wrong with you, ask forgiveness and start becoming the person God created you you to be.
JUST SAYING!!!
God bless you,
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