In his sermon, David's Return to Jerusalem, Bob Deffinbaugh summed things up nicely...
We should also recognize that all of these difficulties were ultimately for David's good, and for the good of God's people. His difficulties should teach us that sin does not pay. On the other hand, David's difficulties also served to humble David, and to make him more dependent upon God. Notice how these painful points in David's life produced a humility and graciousness in him that may not have been as evident earlier in his life. He graciously forgave Shimei for his sins against him. Was this not prompted, in part at least, by the forgiveness David had experienced from God for his sin? We see it also in David's response to Mephibosheth. David has learned to receive, as well as to give, from lovely friends like Barzillai....
Jesus Christ does not just want us to trust in Him as our Savior, but to obey Him as our Lord. How slow and reticent we are to accept this. How quick we are to renounce His lordship in our lives. The Bible speaks clearly, commanding us to do certain things and to abstain from others. And yet when these commands conflict with what we want, we quickly and unashamedly turn from the lordship of Christ, setting aside His commands as culturally irrelevant (or some other equally weak excuse for rebellion and disobedience). When God's appointed leaders (husbands, parents, governing authorities, church leaders) ask us to do that which we disdain, we reject their leadership and seek some other leaders, who will “lead” us in the way we really wanted to go all along. How disinclined we are to submit to God's leadership. (emphasis mine)
I've said that numerous times over the past couple of years. We are quick to admit our need for a Saviour, but are definitely hesitant to give Jesus complete Lordship over our lives. To me, that seems to be the difference between nominal Christians, and victorious Christians.
Not that victorious Christians never struggle with that issue, but we again (going back to the last couple days posts) we bring those struggles, those sins, into the Light and deal with them, getting things back on the right path.
In our NT passage Jesus supports His Claim of this Kingship and Lordship. He starts with the witness of John the Baptist. Human testimony is riveting and it's emotionally impacting. But it's weak theoretically. Even though it's weak theoretically, it still can impact people.
So, Jesus starts with John the Baptist's testimony, and then the testimony of Jesus' own life and works, followed by the Father's Word and scripture itself.
John MacArthur says....
It ends in verse 47 on a tragic note. Jesus declares "I'm God." The Jewish leaders conclude, "Not You're not, You're a blasphemer." And they stand apart. And I give you the same choice this morning. He's either God or He's a blasphemer. If He's God, give Him your life. If He's a blasphemer, get out of the church, it's a mockery.
Tomorrow's passage: Psalm 64, Psalm 70, John 6:1-21
3 comments:
It's so true that we struggle with obedience to God over and over again throughout our lives, though some of us more than others. And then we wonder, as parents, why our children don't obey us as often or as well as they should. It's so hard to surrender our will to that of someone else ~ even God! Dang human nature.
Great post Tammy and excellent point Miriam. As parents, we wonder why our children don't instantly listen to us and instead try to do it their way only to fail. We do the same thing to our Heavenly Father.
Powerful!!! The last line gave me goose bumps. So true. I also totally get "We are quick to admit our need for a Saviour, but are definitely hesitant to give Jesus complete Lordship over our lives. To me, that seems to be the difference between nominal Christians, and victorious Christians." Excellent post Tammy. And Miriam, good point about our children - totally true!
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