NO BIBLE NO BREAKFAST DAILY BIBLE REFLECTIONS AND MORE

FACING OUR FAILINGS (2 SAMUEL 12:1-15)

“Facing our failings” is the theme for reflection. Failings mean weaknesses, especially in a person’s character. It also refers to human frailties or shortcomings. Facing our failings is honestly or truthfully confronting our weaknesses or shortcomings just as we would to others if we discovered them. In other words, facing our failings is remorsefully accepting our weaknesses or shortcomings with the determination to change for the better. The question is what is your reaction as a believer when your failings are exposed or pointed out to you? We shall reflect on the fact that we must show repentance, seek reconciliation with God and pray for regeneration through the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome our failings.

Beloved in the Lord, failings or weaknesses become part of our lives when we depart from the Word of God for our lives to pursue the cravings of the flesh. It was for this reason that Prophet said to King David, “Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes?” (2 Samuel 12:9) In other words, carnality and insatiable cravings for the flesh and obsession with material things are the source of our human failings and shortcomings. This was the situation in 2 Samuel 12:1-4 when Prophet Nathan narrated the scenario of the poor man who had his only little ewe lamp taken away from him by the greedy and wicked rich man. David failed to continually seek God who is the bread that endures and satisfies us spiritually and physically but allowed his sinful appetite to control him to the extent that he had to sleep with Uriah’s wife while he was on the battlefield. Indeed, life without Christ is a life of crisis! If we fail to have the appetite for God’s Word as our daily food, we shall be exposed to the temptation that will lead us to commit sins that will affect us and others. Obeying God and doing His will must be a consistent affair, David had a beautiful relationship with God but the day he yearned for the food that only satisfied the body and rejected the food that had sustained him all along till he became king, he fell into an aborminable sin.

Beloved in the Lord, we may hide our sins from our fellow human beings but we can never hide our sins and failings from God because Hebrews 4:13 makes it abundantly clear that “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:13) Perhaps David was ignorant about this fact, but prophet Nathan exposed his sin and failings by telling David “You are the man!… Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. (2 Samuel 12:7,9).

What was David’s response when his failings were pointd out to him by Prophet Nathan? Unlike some wicked, shameless and power-drunk leaders and wealthy people of our time who will justify their failings and shortcomings and try to cover up their evil with bribery and corruption even when they are caught, David faced his failings with humility and repentance, “Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” (2 Samuel 12:13). Dear friend in Christ, the greatest sign of remorse is to face our failings with humility and honesty. Facing our failing is a sign of true repentance, a desire to seek reconciliation and regeneration through the enablement of the Holy Spirit. Let us always pray for the spirit of humility and honesty to accept those who help us to identify our failings irrespective of who they are. Again let us like David, have humility and desire to face our failings when we are confronted with our ungodly actions or deeds.

The world needs honest leaders like David who will be ready to accept responsibility for their actions and ready to repent. The world does not need wicked, selfish and insensitive leaders whose failings continue to have dire consequences for the poor and vulnerable in society. Again, we must be humble husbands and wives who are ready to face our failings and repent so that we can have a peaceful and successful marriage. Like the prodigal son in  Luke 15:11-32, we must be prepared to face our failings, repent and reconcile with our parents and for that matter, God our creator. We must not allow our failings to linger on in our lives or become our way of life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23). Dear friend, let us learn to reflect on our relationship with God and our actions in society. What are your failings and why are you not able to faithfully walk with God? What is preventing you from dedicating your life fully to God? What are your failings as a husband, wife, child, boss or subordinate? Are your actions and inactions a source of pain and disappointment to someone? Are your failings or weaknesses of greed, sexual immorality, bitterness, slander, gossip and lies causing harm to your spouse, children and even those who may not be directly connected to you? Let us have a heart of humility like David to face our failings and repent.

In summary, we are being called upon today to reflect on our lives and to face our failings by living a life of repentance through obedience to the Word of God, seeking reconciliation with God and the people we have hurt or offended and living a life of regeneration through the enablement of the Holy Spirit. Shalom

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, enable us to face our failings through repentance and regeneration and may the Lord look upon us with mercy even as He restores us to wholeness and reconciles us to Himself. Amen.