Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking him to meet you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
So the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel; 70,000 men of Israel fell. And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it; but as he was about to destroy it, the Lord saw and was sorry over the calamity, and said to the destroying angel, “It is enough; now relax your hand.” And the angel of the Lord was standing by the threshing floor of Orman the Jebusite. Then David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, with his drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, covered with sackcloth, fell on their faces. David said to God, “Is it not I who commanded to count the people? Indeed, I am the one who has sinned, and done very wickedly, but these sheep, what have they done? O Lord my God, please let your hand be against me and my father’s household, but not against Your people that they should be plagued.” Then the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
– 1 Chronicles 21:14-18
Devotion
Whether we think it is fair or not, our actions always affect other people. We cannot know the mind of God in this severe judgment. We do know that putting confidence in military might, or anything that takes God’s place, is sinful and may cause disastrous consequences. Out of this tragic mistake came the purchase of a plot of land that would become the site of God’s temple. God can use our sins for good purposes if we are sorry for them and seek His forgiveness.
The Big Question
Are you mindful that while God does forgive our sins (1 John 1:9), there are still consequences of those sins that may affect others? What things do you need to confess and clear up before God? Thankfully, God loves us and will use us in spite of our short-comings!
Conclude in prayer and silence reflecting on what you’ve learned.