Asked and answered

Last night, my Pastor preached on:

2 Corinthians 6:11-18 GNT

Dear friends in Corinth! We have spoken frankly to you; we have opened our hearts wide.  It is not we who have closed our hearts to you; it is you who have closed your hearts to us.  I speak now as though you were my children: show us the same feelings that we have for you. Open your hearts wide!
Do not try to work together as equals with unbelievers, for it cannot be done. How can right and wrong be partners? How can light and darkness live together?  How can Christ and the Devil agree? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?  How can God's temple come to terms with pagan idols? For we are the temple of the living God! As God himself has said,

“I will make my home with my people

and live among them;

I will be their God,

and they shall be my people.” And so the Lord says,

“You must leave them

and separate yourselves from them.

Have nothing to do with what is unclean,

and I will accept you.
I will be your father,

and you shall be my sons and daughters,

says the Lord Almighty.”

Two things stood out last night.  The first was that he read from a similar translation to what I just used (as opposed to KJV).  The second was that he kept mentioning false Boaz along with false idols.  I paid keen attention because of all that happened to me these last few days. 

Thinking about what you said - I caused you to stumble, and what I did - Imade you an idol, made me realize God had something to say about the matter.   I thought about how I helped nurture you back to sanity.  Of all the assurances I gave and the promises we made.  Then I thought of Ruth and Boaz - how he came to her rescue.  His motivation was to help his kinsman, and while I felt I was doing the same - i guess we're not kinsmen (related).

You should watch 'The Notebook'.

Today though, I thought of their kinsman - their grandson, David. 

In 2Samuel 11 & 12, the story of David in the height of his sin against God. God shows his love for David by sending Samuel to deal with David. He reminds David that David has all he wants and needs. That if David was even greedy for more, he only had to ask God, and it would be done. Instead, David stole what he wanted, and killed the rightful owner to cover up the crime. I too, like David, am a friend of God. The one great difference - i have David's example, and therefore no excuse for my actions.