Whose the "Nathan" In Your Life?
So how do we apply this ability to live victoriously over sin in practical terms? It's one thing to know we ought to have it, it's quite another to actually live it. In my own prayer time, I've been asking the Lord to keep me from falling into sin so that I would not bring dishonor first and foremost to His name, but also to that of my family and my church. My attention was taken to 2 Samuel 11 & 12. In it we find the infamous story of David & Bathsheba. We can chronicle David's downfall by seeing that first, he wasn't where he was supposed to be, he had forgotten his purpose. Second, he was fulfilling his own desires and when the temptation presented itself, instead of turning away, he gave in to the lusts of his flesh. At any point along the way David could have repented and stopped the sin cycle, but he chose not to. We all know that once sin gets its ugly foot in the door, it's difficult to stop (James 1:14-15). Sin, takes you further than you wanted to go, keeps you longer than you wanted to stay, costs you more than you are willing to pay. David's initial sin of covetousness, progressed to theft, then on to adultery, lying, and finally murder. This man who had previously shown strong spiritual character, had become callous and insensitive to the sin that was right before him until a man, a prophet named Nathan, stepped onto the scene. Nathan was no stranger in David's life. He had served him well in many previous situations.
The Lord sent Nathan to David to confront him with his sin. He proved to be a fearless friend and counselor, always willing to speak the truth in love, even though he knew great pain would come. Can you imagine the tremendous amount of courage it took to confront a king who could have you killed in an instant!? Nathan, led by the Lord, used great tact and wisdom in his approach to David which shows us how we present a message is equally as important as the message itself. Here's where David impresses me most and causes me to admire him in spite of his great moral failure. Immediately he received the rebuke and confessed his sin. He didn't try to shift the blame to Bathsheba for being so beautiful or seductive, or for her sunbathing on the roof. He didn't blame Uriah saying if he satisfied his own wife, perhaps she wouldn't have been agreeable. He certainly didn't blame his parents because of, well, we tend to blame our parents for everything! It is at this place in David's life that he writes Psalm 51, giving us incredible insight into the character of the man "after God's own heart".
Who knows what may have happened to David had he not put an end to the sin cycle he was on? Because of God's grace and mercy David is in the lineage of our Lord! And though the consequences of David's sin weren't erased, his relationship to his God was restored and David knew that's what he needed most! Let me ask you, as I've been asking myself, do you have a Nathan in your life? You and I can so easily deceive ourselves, justifying anything we do or want. But God provides us with two ways to guard against self-deception: His Word and true friends. Proverbs 27:6 states, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend. But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." Has anyone been trying to speak the truth in love to you over a matter of sin or potential sin in your life? If so, see them as God's messenger. Don't make excuses, make a decision to pray and quickly repent! "A broken and repentant heart, O God, You will not despise." No matter how miserable or guilty you may feel, pour out your hear to God and seek His forgiveness, then true to our Lord's character, He will forgive you, cleanse you from all unrighteousness and restore your joy! Aren't ya glad we serve an awesome, mighty God who is full of both love & compassion, One who stands ready to forgive the repentant sinner, no matter the sin?!
If you don't have a friend like Nathan, ask the Lord to give you one, but then ask Him to use you as a suitable "Nathan" for someone else.
Humbly,
