David, 2of6

~ David Had a Mentor ~

This post is based upon 2 Samuel 12:1-15. 

Nathan Was David’s God-Given Mentor  ~  As a God sent mentor Nathan confronted David regarding his sin.  “Then Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man!  Thus says the Lord God of Israel: “I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.  …  Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight?  You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon.  Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.” …  So David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord’” (2 Samuel 12:7, 9-10, 13).

There are some practical lessons regarding mentoring in this passage.

Nathan Targeted Three Areas  ~  Notice Nathan’s mentoring skills.  He informed David’s intellect (verses 1-6), his conscience (verses 7-12), and involved David’s emotions (13-14). 

Nathan Appealed Three Ways  ~  Notice Nathan’s practical techniques.  He reminded David (verses 7-8), he an analyzed the situation (verse 9a), and he was very specific naming him (verse 9b). 

Additional Comment  ~  David is one of the true heroes in the Word of God yet God knew he required a mentor.  Christianity is not a “Lone Ranger” faith.  We need (require) the fellowship of other Christians.  “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend” (Proverbs 27:17).

Practical Action Steps  ~  First, if you do not currently have a spiritual mentor seek out a more mature Christian to mentor you.  Second, if you are not currently mentoring someone else ask the Lord to provide the opportunity for you to come along side another—and then be on the lookout for who God sends your way. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

David, 1of6

~ David a Man of Contrasts ~

Overview  ~  David, a man of contrasts, is mentioned about a 1,000 times in the Bible. He was a shepherd boy and a manly king.  Perhaps David is most remembered for two things: first, his great failure with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11) and second the Scripture’s description of him as being “a man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22).  We also find this sentiment in the book of 1 Kings, “But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well that it was in your heart’” (1 Kings 8:18).  David was a man of great physical action and he also wrote a significant portion of the emotion filled Book of Psalms.  He was not only the “Sweet Singer of Israel” but the founder of a city and a house. 

David had many roles including adulterer, father, friend, fugitive, hero, king, killer, lover, murderer, musician, murderer, penitent, poet, politician, prophet, shepherd, sinner, underdog, warrior, and perhaps most importantly a “type” (or foreshadowing) of Jesus Christ. 

Positive  ~   David was strong and courageous in battle—perhaps best illustrated by his confrontation with Goliath.  He possessed great loyalty such as to Saul even when Saul was pursuing him.  For most of his life he possessed a focused loyalty to his God—he loved God deeply.

David throughout most of his life showed that he was a man of character with self-discipline and self-control.  An excellent example of this is his refusal to kill King Saul (God’s first anointed king) even though he had several good opportunities to solve this ongoing problem in his life. 

Negative  ~  David’s great sin of adultery with Bathsheba was multiplied by his sinful attempts to cover up her pregnancy—even to the point of arranging to have Uriah, her husband, killed.  He consciously and willfully disobeyed God such as when he took a census of the people against God’s direct command.  There is also evidence that as an absentee father he was often lax with regard to his disciplining duties as a father. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Identity in Christ, 102

~ I Am To Pursue Heavenly Things ~

Introduction  ~  When Christians understand the various characteristics and aspects of the birthright which came with their second birth, they comprehend their identity in Christ.  Once Christians understand their identity, their destiny is also clear!  This series of “Abundant Life Now” posts will look at one of those facets each week. 

This Week’s Verse  ~  “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.  For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:1-4). 

~~~ EXPLANATORY “IDENTITY IN CHRIST” NOTES ~~~  

(1)  Each Monday ALN posts an example of Scripture’s description of aspects/characteristics of Christians—those who have personally trusted in Jesus Christ, The Messiah, as their personal Savior.

(2)  This series is not intended to be an exhaustive list.

(3)  God the Father described Himself to Moses as the great “I AM” (Exodus 3:14).  God the Son also said “I AM” (John 8:58). 

(4)  Jesus Christ is the Son of God and several times in the Gospel of John He refers to Himself as “I am.”  “I am the Bread of Life” (6:35-51), “I am the Light of the World” (8:12, 9:5), “I am the Door” (10:7-9), “I am the Good Shepherd” (10:11-14), “I am the Son of God” (10:36), “I am the Resurrection and the Life” (11:25), “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (14:6), “I am in the Father, and the Father in Me … Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me” (John 14:10-11), and “I am the True Vine” (15:1-5). 

(5)  Individual Christians are also sons and daughters of God.  This series will show some of the various “I am” aspects of a Christian. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .