Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking him to meet you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel. So David said to Joab and to the princes of the people, “Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan, and bring me word that I may know their number.” Joab said, “May the Lord add to His people a hundred times as many as they are! But, my Lord the king, are they not all my Lord’s servants? Why does my Lord seek this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt to Israel?” Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Therefore, Joab departed and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem. Joab gave the number of the census of all the people to David. And all Israel were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword; and Judah was 470,000 men who drew the sword. But he did not number Levi and Benjamin among them, for the king’s command was abhorrent to Joab.
God was displeased with this thing, so He struck Israel. David said to God, “I have sinned greatly, in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.”
– 1 Chronicles 21:1-8
Devotion
Ever since the Garden of Eden, Satan has been tempting people to sin. Can Satan force people to sin? No, Satan can only tempt us with an idea, and it is our choice to carry out that idea, thought, or action. David’s census was not against God’s law, but his reason for the census was wrong: he could take pride in his mighty army while forgetting that his real strength came from God. Even Joab recognized the census was sinful. From David’s example, we learn that an action that may not be wrong in itself can be sinful if it is motivated by greed, arrogance, or selfishness.
The Big Question
Have you ever done something that may have appeared to others as Godly but was driven by sinful motivations? How can you seek Godly counsel from others? Are you open to others who may question a decision or action that you have taken? Satan can’t force us to sin, but he can influence our thinking (which is why Paul exhorts us in 2 Cor. 10:5 to “take every thought captive”). Ask God to help you to make good choices and resist temptation.
Conclude in prayer and silence reflecting on what you’ve learned.