Unconditional Love
“When God designed a plan for your life, it wasn’t dependent on you being perfect. Your mistakes are not a surprise to Him.” - author unknown
Read: 2 Samuel 12:1-20
Everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes we refer to them as big ones, and sometimes we think they’re small. But all mistakes are the same in the eyes of God. He doesn’t expect us to be perfect. Despite our many failures, He still has a plan for our lives.
David was a king, one of the highest positions a man could achieve. From the time he was young, God had a special plan for him. But even David didn’t live a blameless life. He abandoned his men in battle, had an affair, and lied. David even committed murder. All of these acts were terrible sins, but God still loved him and used him to do great things because David had a repentant heart.
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; - Lamentations 3:22-25 NIV
How often do we look at our own lives with shame and regret? We wonder how God could love us after all we’ve done. But the life of David should show us that there is always hope.
Journal: Is there something from your past or present that you think would make God love you less? Do you have a hard time experiencing the fullness of His unconditional love? Has there been a time when you have repented and asked forgiveness for the things you’ve done?
David still had to face the consequences of his actions, and there are things that we will have to experience because of our sin too. The child that David & Bathsheba brought into this world, while Uriah died in battle, became ill and passed away. However, it brought the sin to light in the presence of God so that David could restore his relationship with Him.
Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble. - Proverbs 28:13-14 NIV
Maybe you’ve made many mistakes in your life. Maybe you’re wondering if God can still use you. David’s life is a reminder that even in our darkest times, God is still with us. God forgives us and takes away our shame. He still has a purpose for our lives, and it’s ours for the taking. Repent and walk in the fullness of His love today.
Activation Prayer: Pray David’s prayer of repentance from Psalm 51 MSG.
1-3
Generous in love—God, give grace!
Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record.
Scrub away my guilt,
soak out my sins in your laundry.
I know how bad I’ve been;
my sins are staring me down.
4-6
You’re the One I’ve violated, and you’ve seen
it all, seen the full extent of my evil.
You have all the facts before you;
whatever you decide about me is fair.
I’ve been out of step with you for a long time,
in the wrong since before I was born.
What you’re after is truth from the inside out.
Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life.
7-15
Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean,
scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life.
Tune me in to foot-tapping songs,
set these once-broken bones to dancing.
Don’t look too close for blemishes,
give me a clean bill of health.
God, make a fresh start in me,
shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
Don’t throw me out with the trash,
or fail to breathe holiness in me.
Bring me back from gray exile,
put a fresh wind in my sails!
Give me a job teaching rebels your ways
so the lost can find their way home.
Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God,
and I’ll sing anthems to your life-giving ways.
Unbutton my lips, dear God;
I’ll let loose with your praise.
16-17
Going through the motions doesn’t please you,
a flawless performance is nothing to you.
I learned God-worship
when my pride was shattered.
Heart-shattered lives ready for love
don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.
18-19
Make Zion the place you delight in,
repair Jerusalem’s broken-down walls.
Then you’ll get real worship from us,
acts of worship small and large,
Including all the bulls
they can heave onto your altar!
Read: 2 Samuel 12:1-20
Everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes we refer to them as big ones, and sometimes we think they’re small. But all mistakes are the same in the eyes of God. He doesn’t expect us to be perfect. Despite our many failures, He still has a plan for our lives.
David was a king, one of the highest positions a man could achieve. From the time he was young, God had a special plan for him. But even David didn’t live a blameless life. He abandoned his men in battle, had an affair, and lied. David even committed murder. All of these acts were terrible sins, but God still loved him and used him to do great things because David had a repentant heart.
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; - Lamentations 3:22-25 NIV
How often do we look at our own lives with shame and regret? We wonder how God could love us after all we’ve done. But the life of David should show us that there is always hope.
Journal: Is there something from your past or present that you think would make God love you less? Do you have a hard time experiencing the fullness of His unconditional love? Has there been a time when you have repented and asked forgiveness for the things you’ve done?
David still had to face the consequences of his actions, and there are things that we will have to experience because of our sin too. The child that David & Bathsheba brought into this world, while Uriah died in battle, became ill and passed away. However, it brought the sin to light in the presence of God so that David could restore his relationship with Him.
Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble. - Proverbs 28:13-14 NIV
Maybe you’ve made many mistakes in your life. Maybe you’re wondering if God can still use you. David’s life is a reminder that even in our darkest times, God is still with us. God forgives us and takes away our shame. He still has a purpose for our lives, and it’s ours for the taking. Repent and walk in the fullness of His love today.
Activation Prayer: Pray David’s prayer of repentance from Psalm 51 MSG.
1-3
Generous in love—God, give grace!
Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record.
Scrub away my guilt,
soak out my sins in your laundry.
I know how bad I’ve been;
my sins are staring me down.
4-6
You’re the One I’ve violated, and you’ve seen
it all, seen the full extent of my evil.
You have all the facts before you;
whatever you decide about me is fair.
I’ve been out of step with you for a long time,
in the wrong since before I was born.
What you’re after is truth from the inside out.
Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life.
7-15
Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean,
scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life.
Tune me in to foot-tapping songs,
set these once-broken bones to dancing.
Don’t look too close for blemishes,
give me a clean bill of health.
God, make a fresh start in me,
shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
Don’t throw me out with the trash,
or fail to breathe holiness in me.
Bring me back from gray exile,
put a fresh wind in my sails!
Give me a job teaching rebels your ways
so the lost can find their way home.
Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God,
and I’ll sing anthems to your life-giving ways.
Unbutton my lips, dear God;
I’ll let loose with your praise.
16-17
Going through the motions doesn’t please you,
a flawless performance is nothing to you.
I learned God-worship
when my pride was shattered.
Heart-shattered lives ready for love
don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.
18-19
Make Zion the place you delight in,
repair Jerusalem’s broken-down walls.
Then you’ll get real worship from us,
acts of worship small and large,
Including all the bulls
they can heave onto your altar!
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