devotions – Seek Grow Love

David Foster Wallace, a popular modern literary author, gave a commencement address in 2005 that everyone should read at least once. Wallace wasn’t a religious person, but he was concerned about the search for meaning. His speech highlights a central truth about humanity while recognizing how this truth is realized in an increasingly secular world.

He begins his speech with the story of a fish who greets two fish by asking, ‘How’s the water?’ After that fish swims away, the other fish turns to his friend and asks, ‘What the heck is water?’

Here is a quote, at length, from his speech: “Because here’s something else that’s weird but true: in the day-to-day trenches of adult life, there is actually no such thing as atheism. There is no such thing as not worshipping. Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship. […]

“The whole trick is keeping the truth up front in daily consciousness.

“Worship power, you will end up feeling weak and afraid, and you will need ever more power over others to numb you to your own fear. Worship your intellect, being seen as smart, you will end up feeling stupid, a fraud, always on the verge of being found out. But the insidious thing about these forms of worship is not that they’re evil or sinful, it’s that they’re unconscious. They are default settings.

“They’re the kind of worship you just gradually slip into, day after day, getting more and more selective about what you see and how you measure value without ever being fully aware that that’s what you’re doing. […]

“It is about the real value of a real education, which has almost nothing to do with knowledge, and everything to do with simple awareness; awareness of what is so real and essential, so hidden in plain sight all around us, all the time, that we have to keep reminding ourselves over and over:

“This is water.“

This is a truth we all need to remind ourselves of. We are all predisposed towards following idols and worshipping things that ultimately are fruitless.

In today’s readings, I see the same truth in Jesus’ words. In Jesus’ words to the Jews, he speaks of their reverence – their worship – for the law of Moses. But, he sees – and we see – how this reverence ultimately led them to reject the very thing that Moses was looking forward to: Jesus.

In John 5:39-40, he says, “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.”

Their worship caused them to become focused on the wrong things, and in so doing, they missed the true life that was in Jesus.

We have the same option before us. We can choose to follow after all of these idols, thinking we will gain something from them. But, ultimately, that will simply lead to a fruitless life.

Or, we can choose to come to Jesus and gain true life.

In Wallace’s speech, his conclusion is that people should just live to be kind, but he rejects the idea that there is a greater religious implication for his worship. And, the tragedy of Wallace’s life is that he never came to Jesus himself. In 2008, he committed suicide.

What are you choosing to worship today? Come to Jesus, and gain true life.

Cayce Fletcher writes and podcasts at amorebeautifullifecollective.com. Check out the blog and other resources to help you create a life you love and cultivate your heart for God. This free resource here will help you take your Bible study one step further with a Bible reading tracker, Bible study reflection page, and more.

Reflection Questions

What were the Jews worshipping? Why was this ultimately fruitless without Jesus?
What are you choosing to worship today? Will it result in something lasting?
Jesus says, “Come to me, and you will have life.” How does Jesus grant life now – in addition to eternal life?

SGL.2025.SeptemberFullPageDownload

Pursuing Jesus

Mark 2

Devotion by Cayce Fletcher (SC)

Even so early in his ministry, the crowds had already begun to clamor for Jesus. They wanted to hear his words, to be close to him. In Mark 2, we read that there were so many people at a house where Jesus was teaching that there was simply no room left.

My church has a fairly large sanctuary. Most weeks, it never gets more than ¾ of the way full. But, there are those special events (and Christmas and Easter) when most pews are full.

It’s wonderful to go into a full church – not just because of the excitement – but also because we are bigger and grander when we’re together. We sing louder. We have better conversations. We are able to carry each other’s burdens more easily.

But, even during the biggest service, there has never been a time where there was no room left.

I wonder what it would have been like to be in this moment at the house with Jesus. What would it have been like to be a part of the growing excitement? To hear Jesus’ name in whispers through the countryside. To see people drop everything just for a chance to hear his teaching.

What if you could experience this today?

The truth is we have an even better opportunity to come and hear Jesus’ teachings. To meet with not only him, but also God our Father as well. But, all too often, we reject this opportunity.

How many times have you said the excuse that you were just too busy to pray? How many times have you moved through your days and weeks and just forgot to open your Bible? How many times have you said, ‘I just don’t feel like it,’ when Sunday morning rolls around? You hit snooze and go back to sleep. What about during weekly Bible study? How many times have you just said, ‘I just need some me-time, to relax.’

With recent national events, there have been several posts asking about churches to go to. People are searching for answers and trying to find them.

We have an opportunity for revival in our community and nation if we can point them to the one who gives true life. Not only this, we can experience revival in our own hearts. We just have to commit to show up, be consistent, and be obedient.

The young men who needed to get to Jesus climbed up on the roof, dug through it, and lowered their paralyzed friend down to Jesus to be healed. How are you pursuing Jesus today?

Reflection Questions

What are some excuses that you make concerning your quiet time? What about going to church? Do you consistently show up, or do you let things get in the way?
Have you invited someone to church recently? How have you been sparking conversations that may lead to evangelism?
Several of the events we read about today are about Jesus’ authority. He has the authority to forgive sins, to choose his disciples, when to fast, and even over the Sabbath. Why is the question of Jesus’ authority focused on so much in the gospels?

SGL.2025.SeptemberFullPageDownload

Whoever Believes in Him

John 2-4

Devotion by Cayce Fletcher (SC)

Our passage of scripture today is action-packed, as Jesus begins his ministry and starts to teach and gain followers as he moves through Judea and Galilee. The reading is bookended by two signs (of which there are 7 in the book of John): Jesus turning water into wine and healing the official’s son.

It’s interesting to compare the beginning of Jesus’ ministry with the temptations he faced in the wilderness. Jesus was tempted to exert his authority in a way that disregarded God. His obedience required humility.

Today, we read about him walking humbly in obedience, doing the will of the Father at a wedding feast, in the temple, and even in a Samaritan village. As he was walking in obedience, he was being elevated. He was shown to have authority over nature, teachers, the temple, and even death.

Like the actual signs themselves, the whole book of John is a book of witness. John is giving his eyewitness testimony, but he is also documenting how Jesus affected the lives of those around him. Each of these instances ends with “____ believed him.” I’ve heard it said that the book of John can be summed up with the phrase, ‘Come and See.’

As we read through the gospels, we are invited to ‘come and see’ the work of Jesus. Like the stories we read today, we can choose to believe in the words and signs of Jesus.

What is the right response to this belief?

John 3:21, “But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”

When we believe in Jesus, we are stepping into the light. We are choosing to live righteous lives in obedience to God as we imitate Christ and are made more like him. Belief in Jesus is the first step in a life obedience.

What is the outcome of this belief? The gospel of John is very clear about that.

Belief in the Son brings eternal life. John the Baptist sums this up in John 3:35-36, “The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.”

We must echo him when we choose to follow Christ: Jesus must increase, and I must increase. That is the true path of life.

Reflection Questions

How do the miracles and signs we read today show the authority that God has given Jesus?
What is so important about belief? Why is belief in Jesus the cornerstone of our faith (as opposed to action or other traditions)?
How are you choosing the path of belief and obedience in your life? Is your life bearing witness to Christ?

SGL.2025.SeptemberFullPageDownload

The Fight Against Temptation

Matthew 4

Luke 4-5

John 1:15-51

Devotion by Cayce Fletcher (SC)

At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, we read of his baptism. This is a special moment of God clearly anointing Jesus with his spirit as he says, “This is my son, with whom I am well pleased.” Jesus is anointed and commissioned in that moment to go and preach the gospel of the Kingdom – which is what he does in Matthew 4:17.

In between the anointing and commencing of his ministry, we read of a curious episode in Jesus’ life. He is led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

The devil shows Jesus three things to entice him to reject God in disobedience. He tells Jesus to turn the stones to bread, to command the angels to come and rescue him, and to elevate himself physically and figuratively so that the world will bow down to him.

Interestingly, these things aren’t necessarily the same struggles we may be tempted by. In one Bible Study I was teaching about this passage, one of my friends looked puzzled and mentioned that he would think that Jesus would have been tempted with ‘the lust of the eyes’ because that is such a ubiquitous struggle for our society. But, I think that this instance is more than Jesus staying strong against the seven deadly sins – though he does and remains sinless throughout his temptations.

In each instance, the devil says, ‘Just show your power to do these things. Show yourself to be like God.’ The devil knows that Jesus has the authority to do the things that he is tempting Jesus with. Jesus also has the power to do those things. But, Jesus knows that he must remain obedient. Jesus is not God, and Jesus knows that the only reason he has the power and authority to do supernatural things is because God has granted him that authority.

These temptations echo the first temptations in the garden. The ancient serpent also tempted Adam and Eve with the chance to become ‘like God.’ Instead of trusting in God and remaining obedient to his word, Adam and Eve trusted the serpent and grabbed at the chance for the knowledge of Good and Evil. Of course, the serpent’s promises were empty and brought death, not happiness.

We are also tempted. Yes, temptations mean that we have to be sure to follow the law of God and live righteously. But, more than that, temptations mean that we have to trust that God knows what is best for our lives. Jesus could have looked at his situation in the wilderness (that he was led to by God) and decided that he knew best. In that moment, he could have rejected God, acted disobediently, and sinned.

But, he didn’t.

Instead, his obedience required him to humble himself and trust God. Ultimately, this proved to be a training ground for what would be required of him later on. Philippians 2:8 says, “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death — even to death on a cross.”

We have to take the same path. We don’t know best. We have to trust God and his word.

We can take comfort in the end of the story, too. Jesus wasn’t exalted by the devil, but we know that the thing the devil tempted him with will come true because Jesus was obedient. One day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

We wait in hope for that day, and we live in obedience today.

Reflection Questions

How are the temptations of Jesus in the wilderness similar to and different from the temptations of Adam and Eve in the garden?
How does Jesus fight against temptation? How can you better equip yourself to fight against temptation?
Why did God lead Jesus to the wilderness? How was Jesus’ time in the wilderness preparation for the rest of his ministry?

SGL.2025.SeptemberFullPageDownload

The Beginning of Ministry

Matthew 3

Mark 1

Luke 3

Devotion by Cayce Fletcher (SC)

The past year, I just celebrated the big 3-0. With every new decade, life speeds up, and the long stretch of the future that seems endless at 18 starts to look shorter and shorter.

I remember when I graduated from high school, I – and all my friends – wrestled endlessly with what to make of our lives. What college? What major? What city? What guy? It seemed like we needed to have it all figured out as soon as we walked across the graduation stage.

But, as anyone who has a little life experience knows, life rarely goes as planned. What we thought would make up our lives at 18 rarely fits with what our life actually looks like at 30, 40, or 50.

It always seemed strange to me that Jesus, with such a short life, waited to begin his ministry until 30. Here are some reasons why that could be.

Traditionally, 30 was the age in Jewish culture of full maturity. It matches up with the pattern of scripture: David was 30 years old when he became king, Joseph was 30 when he entered the service of Pharaoh, the Levitical priests were 30 when they started their service, and so on (Ezekiel, King Saul, and maybe even Paul the Apostle).

Jesus needed to wait to gain the experience and wisdom that comes with age. His authority and testimony depended on it.

When I was younger, it seemed like if I had not decided on a thing by age 22 that opportunity would have passed me by for the rest of my life. Whether that’s a career or a specific ministry, it seems like I’m already too set in my ways to be able to make a change and start doing the thing.

But, I’ve realized that is not how life works. Our lives are long and full of twists and turns. Joseph probably could not have dreamed of the many changes that would take place between his time among his flocks and entering the service of Pharaoh, but God knew and had a plan.

Sometimes, I find myself falling into this trap today. If someone has moved on from the church or a friendship is broken, I often give up. I feel as though this will be how this person, this relationship, or this work will be for the rest of my life.

We need to remember this: As long as we are willing to walk in obedience, it is never too late to start the work. God uses the time waiting and praying as preparation to help to mature our faith and grow our wisdom.

What can we do in the waiting?

We can pray, prepare, and trust – as we look to all those who had to wait to begin their ministry. We can trust that God, ‘who started a good work in us, will see it through to completion.’

Reflection Questions

Why do you think Age 30 was so significant in God’s plan? What is special about this age?
What thing do you feel is ‘too late to change’? It could be a job, a personality trait, a failed relationship, or a church ministry. How could you pray for change for this thing?
How can we ‘wait well’? What are some practical steps we can take to make the most of our time of preparation?

SGL.2025.SeptemberFullPageDownload

The Gift of the Magi

Matthew 2

Luke 2:39-52

Devotion by Cayce Fletcher (SC)

When I was still teaching seventh-grade English, one of the stories that my students loved (much to my surprise) was “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry. In the story, a young couple needed to buy Christmas presents for each other, but like many young couples, they were severely lacking in funds to do so. In order to scrounge together what they needed for the perfect gift, they sold their most valuable possessions (hair in the girl’s case and an inherited pocket watch for the boy).

At the end, to their dismay, the boy and the girl realized that the gifts they had purchased were useless, though very expensive. The boy had bought a comb for the girl who had shorn her hair. The girl had bought a chain for the boy who had sold his watch.

As my students reached the end of the story, they would always laugh and shake their heads at the couple. But, the story ends with this famous quote: “Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.”

Today’s reading almost feels like Christmas in July (or well… September). In four separate stories of travels, we learn about Jesus’ boyhood. He receives the gifts from the Magi, takes off to Egypt for several years, returns and settles in Nazareth, and finally participates in an annual pilgrimage for the Jewish feast of Passover.

My students may think that the boy and girl in the story are silly, but when we read the story of the Magi, we should be struck as well. These men left their countries to go on a years long journey. To where? They didn’t know. For what? They also didn’t know.

All they knew was this: “We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

O. Henry recognized that this was true devotion and love. To recklessly sacrifice to show devotion for something that we hold as truly valuable. The Magi are famously called ‘The Wise Men.’

But, what is true wisdom?

It is not always playing it safe. It is not always acting in a way the world deems prudent.

But, it is always rightly ordering our loves so that we can show devotion to the best thing.

What does that look like?

It is choosing to put our faith at the forefront of our lives, prioritizing it. We talk of priorities as a list of 3, 5, or even 10. But, really, the word means the thing we hold first. If our faith is placed first, everything else we do falls behind it.

And, when we devote our lives to our faith, we may pursue the way of the Magi. We may sacrifice (maybe a little recklessly) in order to obey our God. Because we know that the path of obedience is sweet and good. It is worth giving up everything – even our most valuable possessions – for.

Reflection Questions

We often think of the Wise Men as being Wise because they were simply ‘learned.’ But, how were their actions also wise?
What is our first priority in our lives? How do we show this through our actions?
How can choosing to live wisely and righteously look like foolishness to the world?

SGL.2025.SeptemberFullPageDownload

Spiritual Adultery

Ezekiel 13-15

Devotion by Pastor Jeff Fletcher – originally posted for SeekGrowLove on March 22, 2017, for Ezekiel 14-16.

Chapter 14 gives us a picture of the heart of God. Elsewhere in the Bible it says that God is a jealous God. God loves His people Israel as a husband loves his bride. Israel turned away from God’s love, their hearts were no longer given to God. God wants more than anything else to recapture the hearts of His people who deserted him to pursue idols. God wants them to repent and turn back to Him.

God wants to have His people love Him exclusively. He will not let them worship idols, yet still come to him for prophecy. This would be similar to a woman who both goes to her lover but then comes to her husband as well. God will have none of this, no two timing wife. Israel must have a change of heart and that will only happen through judgment. The prophets were not permitted to prophesy for people who were also consulting idols. If the prophets did prophesy to those seeking idols, they too would be punished.

God tells Ezekiel that His judgment is certain and that no human being, no matter how righteous or faithful can stop that judgment. He warns that even if such great men of faith as Noah, Daniel or Job sought to keep Israel from judgment that their righteousness would not be able to save Israel.

In Chapter 15 God promises to make Jerusalem as desolate and useless as a dried up vine that has been thrown into a fire. Just as the vine will be totally consumed by the fire, so too, will Jerusalem be consumed by the fire of God’s judgment.

Chapter 16 is one of the most graphic passages in all of the Bible. If the Song of Solomon was rated PG-13, Ezekiel 16 would probably be rated R or NC-17. It is extremely disturbing to read. God compares Israel to an unwanted, discarded child whom God rescued from its disgrace. God later came along when Israel was old enough to be married, but she was naked and dirty. God cleaned her up, covered over her nakedness, dressed her up like a princess and made her his bride. Israel was blessed beyond imagination by God her husband. But then, tragically, Israel turned to prostitution. Here Idolatry is likened to a form of spiritual adultery. Israel had brought great shame upon her husband. In fact, she was worse than a prostitute in that she paid others her gold and silver to sleep with her. It’s such a disturbing picture. And it’s designed to give us a visceral reaction. It’s a gut punch.

The fact that God must punish Israel for her spiritual adultery is not surprising. Israel is only getting what they deserve. What is surprising is that God is going to restore Israel. Not because Israel deserves it now any more than it deserved it when God first cleaned her up and made her His bride. God is doing it because God is faithful to His Covenant promises. God made a promise to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants, Israel. God does not forget His covenant or break his promises. God is filled with steadfast love for His people.

After punishing Israel, God will then make atonement for them. He will cover over their sin and guilt and forgive them and take them back. Then they will remember their vows and be ashamed of their guilt and will become a faithful wife and turn away from idols.

As Christians, we have been grafted into God’s family and we are now included as God’s bride. Through Jesus Christ God has found us in our sin, cleaned us up and made us His own. Are we sometimes guilty of idolatry? Do we ever act unfaithfully toward God and give our hearts to someone or something else instead of God? Remember, Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to Love God with all your heart. God wants All your heart. God is jealous when we give our hearts to another. May Israel’s spiritual adultery remind us that we must give our hearts fully only to God and no one else. Otherwise, God may have to win our hearts back the way he did Israel, and we can see how unpleasant that process was for them. Let’s always keep our hearts faithful to God alone.

Reflection Questions

What promises had God already made to the Israelite people?
What must the people do to keep their side of the covenant promises with God?
What can you do to give all your heart to God and avoid spiritual adultery?

SGL.2025.AugustFullPage Download

Idolatrous Attachments

Ezekiel 5-8

Devotion by Pastor Jeff Fletcher – originally posted for SeekGrowLove on March 20, 2017, for Ezekiel 5-9.

This portion of Ezekiel is, admittedly, difficult to read. It’s a pretty graphic account of God impending judgment against the city of Jerusalem and his people, Israel. God tells Ezekiel to shave his head and beard. This would have been an act of mourning for most people, but it was double disturbing for Ezekiel, since he was a priest and normally forbidden from shaving his head or beard. Ezekiel was told to burn, take a sword to, and scatter his cut hair. This was to symbolize what was to happen to Israel. A few hairs were kept back, symbolic of the remnant who would not be destroyed.

God accuses his people, Israel, the chosen nation, of being worse than the other nations. They broke the law more than the nations that did not have the law. God was bringing his judgment against His own people. The description of the siege almost defies comprehension, including cannibalism of both parents and children. This was to serve as a warning to the other nations: if this is how God treats his own people for their idolatry, beware of what he will do to you.

In Ezekiel six God makes it clear that their judgement is upon them because of their idolatry. However, there is a remnant that will be spared and live in captivity and will come to repentance.

In Ezekiel seven, a special emphasis is made regarding their idolatrous attachment to gold and silver. This wealth that they turned to and fashioned into idols will be unable to save them from the coming judgment. All the money in the world can’t save you from judgment.

In Chapter eight Ezekiel has a vision of the temple in Jerusalem. This includes the “Idol of jealousy” which we discover is the pagan god Tammuz. Tammuz was the Sumerian god of food and vegetation. At the summer solstice there was a period of mourning as the people saw the shortening of days and the approaching drought. Sacrifices were made to Tammuz at the door of the Jerusalem Temple. This was an absolute abomination to Israel’s God, YHWH as He made it clear that He alone was to be worshipped as God (see Deuteronomy 6:4-5).

In Chapter Nine an angel is sent out to put a mark on all of the people of the city who did not commit idolatry and worship Tammuz. They would be spared. But then all those who did not receive a mark would be destroyed. This is reminiscent of the story of Exodus, when the doorposts of the Israelites were to be marked with the blood of the sacrificial lamb, and those with the mark were spared their firstborn sons dying when the Angel of Death passed over their houses. It also points to the future (See Revelation 13) when the beast will cause people to have a mark on their forehead or they would not be able to buy or sell. This is contrasted with those in Revelation 14 who have the name of God and of the lamb on their foreheads.

God is a God of love and mercy. God has provided a means for us to be rescued from the consequences of sin. There is a way for each of us to be spared the final judgment of God that is coming. Jesus Christ, the lamb of God is the only means by which we can escape judgment. Along with God’s mercy is His holiness. God will not allow sin and rebellion to continue on earth forever. A day of judgment is coming for all the earth just as it did for the nation of Israel. God tolerated their sin for only so long, and then came the time for judgment. Mercifully, God spared those who repented by placing His mark upon them. God has been tolerating sinful rebellion on earth, but a day is coming when He will destroy sin and sinners who have not repented and turned away from their sins and turned to him through Jesus Christ. Ezekiel’s harsh imagery should remind us that we must not forget that God’s wrath is coming from which we all need to escape, and we need to warn others. This won’t make us popular, but doing God’s will is seldom popular among the rebellious.

Reflection Questions

What idols are present in the world today? And in your life?
How does God’s love and mercy work with His justice?
Has popularity ever been an idol for you over God’s will? When have you chosen popularity over God’s will? When have you chosen God’s will over popularity?

SGL.2025.AugustFullPage Download

Leaving a Legacy

1 Chr 22; Ps 30, 108-110

There’s nothing quite like the moment when you hold your little newborn baby in your arms. For months, you dreamed of when they would arrive, what they would look like, and the sweetness of that moment. But, your dreaming of the future doesn’t stop once you get home from the hospital.

With every birthday, we imagine the future self that they will grow into. Some of our dreams are realized, and some are given up as life passes on.

My husband has always wanted to be a Golf Player (with a capital G, capital P). When we learned we were pregnant with our first, he immediately said, ‘He can grow up and learned to be good at golf.’ Even if we don’t want to admit it, we all do this.

We all have dreams that we pass on to our children. Some of these dreams are our unrealized hopes for our own future. We think, “I can’t do this, but maybe my kids can.” Some of these dreams are our way of passing on our accomplishments. We build a family business and want our kids to continue that legacy.

David had his own special dream that he wanted to pass down to his children that was a combination of both his unrealized hopes and his hard-won legacy. Since Solomon was young, David knew that his little boy would grow up to do what he wasn’t able to do: Build the temple. So, David spent his lifetime paving the way for Solomon, assembling together all the resources he would need to do something magnificent.

My son is still young. No, we haven’t done golf lessons – yet. But, he has a few clubs to play with. There is still time for him to become that Golf Player that we dreamed of five years ago.

But, as I read through David’s story, I’m moved to imagine a different kind of legacy that I want to pass on. I don’t just want to have dreams that center around things that would be ‘cool to do.’ My dreams for him are to build a legacy that would glorify God and impact the world.

How are we launching others to do good work for God? Are you helping those coming after you build a lasting legacy of glorifying God?

-Cayce Fletcher

Cayce blogs at https://amorebeautifullifecollective.com about faith, family, and life. You’ll find encouragement for how to build intentional lives rooted in faith and beauty. Check out the latest post on the human nature of Jesus here.

Reflection Questions

What were some hopes and dreams that you wanted for yourself but have passed you by?
If you have kids, how have you tried to realize those dreams in your children?
What is the legacy you want to leave? How are you setting up the people who come after you to glorify God?

SGL.2025.MayFullPageDownload

David’s Costly Mistake

2 Sam 24, 1 Chr 21

When David sinned with Bathsheba, we see him at his lowest point. He is made to confront his sin as Nathan the profit reminds him how God brought him up from being a shepherd boy to king over all of Israel. God humbled him and cut through his swollen pride to remind him of his true heart.

We would think after such a time as that David would be ‘home free.’ The story was played out, exposition, conflict, resolution, and all. David would be able to live righteously the rest of his life, ‘happily ever after.’

But we know that life isn’t like a fairy tale. As we talked about earlier this week, we all experience highs and lows. We have many story arcs throughout the years. And, David did too.

We don’t know how many years have passed since David and Bathesheba’s sin and the events we read about today. But, today we read about another step off the good and righteous path that David took. This blunder resulted in more than the death of one man and one child. It resulted in the death of 70,000 people.

In 1 Chr. 21, it says, “Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number.”

David’s request seems pretty innocuous. Censuses happened throughout scripture, but generally, they occurred when God commanded them. (The first part of that passage is a whole different theological question… that we are not going to talk about today.) In this case, the people weren’t being numbered because it pleased God. They were being numbered so that David could be puffed up in pride over the strength of the army he had gathered. Even Joab, not a very righteous man, told David he was crazy for wanting to do this.

David’s guilt left him with a choice: How was he going to atone for his sins? The price of his sin turned out to be a disease against Israel, because of which 70,000 people died.

Finally, David fell to the ground and pleaded for God to stop for the sake of his ‘sheep’, the people of Israel. David bought an altar that would become the future site of the temple of God.

From today’s reading, we see:

We should never think that we are ‘too righteous’ to never sin. No matter how long you walk with God, you have the potential to be tempted away from the right path. This does not mean that we live in fear. It means that we need to recognize the importance of relying on God.
Our sins affect our community. When David did this thing, he chose to sin himself. But, his sins affected an entire nation. 70,000 people is more people than the US casualties in the Vietnam war… and every major US conflict since. We think we are doing things in isolation but they have far-reaching consequences for the people around us.
God can use painful things for good. The altar that David sacrificed to end the plague ended up being the future site of the temple. Even evil situations can be redeemed by God and used for good – if we humble ourselves, repent, and ask God to enter into the situation.

How are you living today?

-Cayce Fletcher

Reflection Questions

Have you ever felt ‘too big to fail?’ What are some ways that we can cultivate humility in our lives?
How does sin have far-reaching consequences? How have you seen others affected by sin that seemed like something done in secret and isolation?
How can God use broken situations for good? Is there a broken situation in your life that you need to invite God into today?

SGL.2025.MayFullPageDownload

Tag: devotions

“This is Water”

John 5

Pursuing Jesus

Mark 2

Whoever Believes in Him

John 2-4

The Fight Against Temptation

Matthew 4

Luke 4-5

John 1:15-51

The Beginning of Ministry

Matthew 3

Mark 1

Luke 3

The Gift of the Magi

Matthew 2

Luke 2:39-52

Spiritual Adultery

Ezekiel 13-15

Reflection Questions

Idolatrous Attachments

Ezekiel 5-8

Reflection Questions

Leaving a Legacy

1 Chr 22; Ps 30, 108-110

Reflection Questions

David’s Costly Mistake

2 Sam 24, 1 Chr 21

Reflection Questions

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