Meditation

Welcome to the PCC Online Daily Devotional.
(A production of the Secretary, Committee of the Ministry)
Summarized Version
Date: Tuesday, August 17, 2021
Psalm: 51: 1- 17
Hymn: CHB 55, CH 234

Let us pray
Lord our God, you show your power above all in mercy and forgiveness, fill us with Eternal King and Creator of the Universe, Thank you for your great love and care. Thank you for your sacrifice so that we might have freedom and life. Forgive us for when we don't thank you enough, for who you are, for all that you do, for all that you've given. Help us to set our eyes and our hearts on you afresh. Renew our spirits, fill us with your peace and joy. We love you and we need you, this day and every day. We give you praise and thanks, for You alone are worthy; In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray.
Amen

Meditation
Text: 2 Sa. 12:1-10 & 13-15a
The Lord sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, “There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him. “Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.” David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.” Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. 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. Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’ Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the Lord, the son born to you will die.” After Nathan had gone home, the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill

Theme: “I have Sinned against the Lord...I am Sorry”

David unknowingly condemned himself when he judged the man who stole the little lamb. Our own faults ,which we are slow to recognize, seem so big when we see them in others. Instead of being experts in criticizing the shortcomings of others, let us look in the mirror of God's Word and ask him to help us see our own faults clearly. “The sin of others are before our eyes; our own are behind our backs"
David, the disgraced King had a shameful record
of hidden sins. When David heart was hardened and he needed an outside perspective, a godly perspective, on his involvement with Bathsheba, God sent Prophet Nathan to confront and rescue him. When he was confronted by Nathan he discovered that nothing was hidden before the eyes of God. “even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” (Psalm 139:12).
Nathan used an allegory, a short story, that pointed at David's actions. David saw how he had harmed Uriah. David’s adultery, deceit, and murder displeased the Lord.
David discovered that his sin was an affront to God, not just to people, so he confessed, repented, asked, and received God’s forgiveness. Nathan assured David, “the Lord has taken away your sins”. What a great assurance to a seemingly helpless sinner. Unfortunately, the consequences of his sin never departed from his household.
If God reveals sin in our lives, his ultimate purpose is not to condemn us, but to restore us and to help us reconcile with those we have hurt. Repentance clears the way for renewed closeness with God through the power of his forgiveness and grace. “We have to face our sins before we can put them behind us". Let us turn ourselves into God. Don’t hide, let's say "I am sorry”, “It is my fault”. “What can I do to make it?
Amen

Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word which enlightens our understanding of you and leads us to paths of righteousness everyday. Teach us to be responsible and devoted members of the family of believers. Help us to seek ways of drawing them closer to Christ rather than cursing them. May their eyes be opened to see you for who you are so that they might receive salvation. Help us to always see your hand in every difficulty we face and to have the courage to render you our deepest praise in those times. May your praise be on our lips at all times; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer Further
Lord, we have denied you by refusing to know you. We have betrayed you by keeping our distance. We have mocked you by pretending we are not yours. Lord, we are lost; let your forgiveness find us. Accept the repentance of us, your servants, whose lives are not in accordance with our faith.
Lord in your mercy…
O Lord, we encounter you in the depth and privacy of our soul. Thank you for your word which confronts us of the sin that easily entangles. Welcome us into your strong, forgiving arms and let us feel reconciled again.
Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Benediction
The Lord bless you and watch over you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord look kindly on you and give you peace.
Amen.

Daily readings
1Kg 12:1-20
Mk. 11: 20-25