Ditching the Dirt

King David was called a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). He is remembered as noble, a man of character and courage. In many instances, he obeyed God, but David also sinned just like you and me. We can read about two heinous sins David committed in 2 Samuel 11-12. When David should have been out fighting with the
Israelite army, he stayed in his palace and had sex with Bathsheba while her husband, Uriah, was away at war. When Bathsheba told David she was pregnant, David tried to cover up what he’d done. So David ordered that Uriah be killed in a battle. God did not tolerate the sins of David, and He sent the prophet Nathan to rebuke David. When David acknowledged his sin and turned back to God, God forgave him.

When you fall into sin, no matter how terrible the sin is, remember that God will forgive you just like He forgave David. This radical forgiveness is possible because of Jesus. He died on the cross and rose from the dead to pay the penalty your sins deserve and give you new life. If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, not only has God forgiven you, He has also taken away your guilt and shame. Isaiah 1:18 says it this way: “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.â€

Although God is perfect, He reaches out and accepts us even when we do wrong against Him. As forgiven followers of Jesus, we can know that nothing we do will ever make God abandon us. He loves us, and we are His children. When we fall into sin, God will help us come to Him in humility, and He will raise us up once again. When we struggle with guilt and shame, we can remember how Jesus took all our sins on Himself on the cross, and He prayed to God to forgive us. • Golda Dilema

• Do you ever feel pulled down by guilt or think God won’t forgive you for something you’ve done? What does David’s story reveal about God’s forgiveness?

• If you want to know more about God’s forgiveness through Jesus, see our “Know Jesus” page.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (NIV)

Read Verses:

1John.1.5-1John.1.10|Prov.17.9|Eph.4.29-Eph.4.32|Heb.4.14-Heb.4.16