“The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for.”
2 SAMUEL 13-14
JOURNAL
David is grappling with the banishment of his son, Absalom, after Absalom kills his brother, Amnon. The kingdom is filled with heartbreak and betrayal, and it is painful to watch everything unravel. However, this tragedy can be traced back to David’s sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:1-27). David made serious mistakes as a leader, and as a result, he brought a spirit of selfishness into his family and his kingdom. While God forgave David (2 Samuel 12:13), the consequences of his actions would still affect him and his kingdom. The spirit of selfishness he introduced would have lasting repercussions.
In the same way, Jesus addresses this destructive spirit in His parable to the Pharisees. Their pride and arrogance blinded them to the truth. Despite all their searching and waiting, they failed to recognize that Jesus was the Messiah, the answer to their prayers for redemption, joy, and peace. They couldn’t see that He was the path they had been longing for (Matthew 23:37-39).
I believe this all comes down to the underlying motive behind our actions. What drives us? Is it for good or for evil? As believers, our motive should be rooted in goodness. It must drive us to serve others and give our best for the collective good, for the kingdom of God. Our motive should urge us to act assertively—not to seek glory or honor for ourselves but for the benefit of the community. We are all part of some team, whether it’s a family, a community, a country, or even the world. As members of a team, we are connected to everything and everyone around us (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).
We are important, and each of us has a role to play. In fulfilling that role, we are called to give our very best, every day and every moment. This is our greatest challenge: to give our best and to fight against the temptation to procrastinate, avoid, lie, deceive, or give in to hatred. The present moment is where the battle takes place—it’s where the war is fought for our souls and the allegiance of our hearts. If we fight our daily battles and give our best for the team, God promises that we will experience true joy—peace, hope, and contentment (Philippians 4:6-7).
However, our enemy, shame and fear, will try to tempt us. When we surrender to these emotions, we begin to question the present, wishing it were different, longing for more or less, or wishing things had gone another way. We risk losing our joy, our hope, and our gratitude. This despair can lead us to seek anything to numb the pain, to try to change the past, or to fear the future. We lose sight of the one thing we can control—the present. This temptation to turn away from the present was the same that led Adam and Eve to disobey God (Genesis 3:6). It was the same force that drove David to commit adultery with Bathsheba and have Uriah killed (2 Samuel 11:1-27). It was the evil that tempted Judas to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16) and caused Peter to deny Him (Matthew 26:69-75).
Jesus, however, walked a different path. He lived a perfect life, paving the way for us to enter the kingdom of God. Through His sacrifice, He made us part of His team (John 14:6). He gave us a purpose and a role to play, and He sent His Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us along the way (John 14:16-17). By following Jesus, we can live out our purpose with integrity, and He promises that, in doing so, we will experience peace and true joy (John 15:10-11).
David is grappling with the banishment of his son, Absalom, after Absalom kills his brother, Amnon. The kingdom is filled with heartbreak and betrayal, and it is painful to watch everything unravel. However, this tragedy can be traced back to David’s sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:1-27). David made serious mistakes as a leader, and as a result, he brought a spirit of selfishness into his family and his kingdom. While God forgave David (2 Samuel 12:13), the consequences of his actions would still affect him and his kingdom. The spirit of selfishness he introduced would have lasting repercussions.
In the same way, Jesus addresses this destructive spirit in His parable to the Pharisees. Their pride and arrogance blinded them to the truth. Despite all their searching and waiting, they failed to recognize that Jesus was the Messiah, the answer to their prayers for redemption, joy, and peace. They couldn’t see that He was the path they had been longing for (Matthew 23:37-39).
I believe this all comes down to the underlying motive behind our actions. What drives us? Is it for good or for evil? As believers, our motive should be rooted in goodness. It must drive us to serve others and give our best for the collective good, for the kingdom of God. Our motive should urge us to act assertively—not to seek glory or honor for ourselves but for the benefit of the community. We are all part of some team, whether it’s a family, a community, a country, or even the world. As members of a team, we are connected to everything and everyone around us (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).
We are important, and each of us has a role to play. In fulfilling that role, we are called to give our very best, every day and every moment. This is our greatest challenge: to give our best and to fight against the temptation to procrastinate, avoid, lie, deceive, or give in to hatred. The present moment is where the battle takes place—it’s where the war is fought for our souls and the allegiance of our hearts. If we fight our daily battles and give our best for the team, God promises that we will experience true joy—peace, hope, and contentment (Philippians 4:6-7).
However, our enemy, shame and fear, will try to tempt us. When we surrender to these emotions, we begin to question the present, wishing it were different, longing for more or less, or wishing things had gone another way. We risk losing our joy, our hope, and our gratitude. This despair can lead us to seek anything to numb the pain, to try to change the past, or to fear the future. We lose sight of the one thing we can control—the present. This temptation to turn away from the present was the same that led Adam and Eve to disobey God (Genesis 3:6). It was the same force that drove David to commit adultery with Bathsheba and have Uriah killed (2 Samuel 11:1-27). It was the evil that tempted Judas to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16) and caused Peter to deny Him (Matthew 26:69-75).
Jesus, however, walked a different path. He lived a perfect life, paving the way for us to enter the kingdom of God. Through His sacrifice, He made us part of His team (John 14:6). He gave us a purpose and a role to play, and He sent His Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us along the way (John 14:16-17). By following Jesus, we can live out our purpose with integrity, and He promises that, in doing so, we will experience peace and true joy (John 15:10-11).
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