Scripture to Read: 2 Samuel 11
As we read in yesterday’s devotion, we must always be about God’s work. The reason we must be about God’s work is that when we are not, we open ourselves to the temptations of our fleshly desires (Galatians 5:19-21). As we read 2 Samuel 11:2-5, we see how David, not being at war with his army, opened up the door for David’s fleshly desires to be tempted. David allowed his lust of the flesh to take control. God reminds us in James 1:14-15, “But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.” David’s lust enticed him, and David allowed his lust to take root in his heart. Because David allowed his lust to control him, he committed adultery with Bathsheba. When David saw Bathsheba bathing, he could have gone to his wife and confessed to her what he saw and asked her to forgive him for lusting after another woman. David could have prayed at that moment and confessed to God his sin of lust and thanked God for the wife David had already been blessed with by God. Instead, David acted upon his lust and had Bathsheba brought to him to fulfill his lustful desire. As God tells us in James 1:15, sin always brings the consequence of death. We’ll examine more about the death sin brings in tomorrow’s devotion, but for now we know sin brings death.
Challenge & Application
1. What did God teach you today about your fleshly desires and about sin?
2. How are you battling against the temptations you face each day?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!