Devotion:
Read 2 Samuel 12:1-13.
It is never easy to tell a person we care about that they are wrong. It is even harder to have a person tell us that our own behavior is out of bounds. Nathan knew that he had to give King David some difficult correction from God. He must have been nervous about how the king would respond. Nathan took a gentle approach to help David understand the situation by using a parallel story to get the point across.
Nathan mentored King David by helping him see where he had wandered from God’s law. He spoke the truth that needed to be spoken in a loving, caring way. When we confront someone, it needs to be done with great compassion. We don’t need to yell and scream as we point out questionable behavior, because that makes a person get defensive and not hear the reasoning. We should use a mature approach, confronting the issue and explaining the boundaries of appropriateness. Freedom does not mean there are no boundaries. King David did not try to defend his sinful behavior; instead, he responded with repentance. His heart was softened to hear what he needed to hear. We need to be receptive to correction.
Personal Worship Option:
You might want to read Psalm 51. God, help us to care enough for each other that we can lovingly confront wrong behavior. Help us hear your word and respond in love to Christian mentors who guide us when we stray. Amen.
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