2 Samuel 12... David was a person after God's Heart. That doesn't mean that he was always making good progress. When you see someone sitting at the feet of a Guru, it doesn't mean that that person has arrived (in fact, it could mean the person is broken, in search of gudiance, hope and forgiveness...)
David had just "taken" Bathsheba, committe adultery, abused his power as King, and murdered Uriah the Hittite, Batsheba's husband. Nathan comes to David, tells a story about a "man" that evokes David's sense of justice (a quality after God's heart). David pronounces: "As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die!"
And Nathan breaks the news:"You are the man!"
As Nathan speaks words of Reality (honest words) into David's life, David responds spontaneously: "I have sinned against the LORD."
Are you able to hear the words of Reality that bring clarity about your life? And when you hear the words of Reality, are you able to acknowledge that reality and respond without defensiveness: I have sinned/I am broken/I have caused pain etc...
Nathan's immediate repsonse is surprising to say the least! "The LORD has taken away your sin." How did he know that? I believe it's because Nathan knew that God forgives freely and immediately. God is not in the business of Guilt. God is in the business of Healing! And words of reality are spoken in order to enable healing and growth. Nathan is able to offer the forgiveness of God as soon as he senses David's acknowledgment of his failure.
Now! Are you able to receive the words of forgiveness? or do you live in guilt and embarrassment. David, the person after God's heart, messed up badly. But he also was able to received God's forgiveness.
We all need a Nathan. Someone who will speak the words of Reality when we need to hear them. And a person who will assure us of God's forgiveness so that we can receive healing and grow beyond our failures...
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