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Today is Thursday April 15, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of II Samuel chapters 13-14. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-april-15

Title: Bible Study: Power to Change
The Bible says we are to, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”- Proverbs 22:6. Most parents or guardians do the best they can to raise a child in a way that he is respectful and honorable and most will hold on to what they have been taught and follow through. However, a few do depart from it and while we all want the best for our children they are accountable for their own actions. While we can not avoid the consequences of our sins, we do have the power to change any situation we get ourselves into.

For most of his life, except for his sin with Bathsheba, David had been consistent in his walk with the Lord, but two of his oldest sons, Amnon and Absalom did not follow David's godly example. I am sure David did all he could as a father to teach his children to love God and obey His commands and laws. However, David is first deceived by his oldest son Amnon over his lust for his half sister, Tamar, Absalom's sister. “And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do anything to her. ...And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand....And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother. And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister. And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly. And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee. Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her. Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.” - II Samuel 13:1,2,5,10-15. After his brief moment of lustful gratification, he forced her out of his home and locked the door. All of a sudden his love for her turned to hate, this is an example of how deceitful the act of lust is. If Amnon truly loved his sister he would not have even attempted such a thing with her, then his guilt caused his hatred toward her.

By law, if a man raped a woman, especially if that woman was a sister, that man had an instant death sentence. However, when David learned what happened he disregarded the law and two years later, out to seek justice and the crown, Absalom killed Amnon. Out of fear he fled to his grandfather's house and was there for three years. “Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant......So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years. And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead. ” - II Samuel 13:28,38,39. David knew that he could do nothing for the one son that was dead, yet there was another son that was still alive and out of the country. David wanted to be with Absalom his son, and forgive him for the deed that he had done, but he did not want to go where Absalom was to confront him, rather he stayed in Jerusalem and waited for Absalom's return. After David had committed his sin, his guilt was to heavy a burden for him, and he just could not face even his own family, for he knew that he was the cause of what was happening.

A parent can experience no greater suffering than to see his similar sins repeated by their own children. We cannot undo past sins, failures, and wasted time, but Christians are assured that we can be forgiven of our sins. “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” - I John 2:1,2. We all should be deeply grateful for the mercy of God. From beginning to end, the Bible is the history of God's redeeming love. God is still pleading with every sinner to repent, turn from sin, and wholeheartedly yield himself to Christ as Lord. As we yield our wills to the Lord and allow Him to mold our thoughts and activities to conform with His will we then can fulfill the purpose for which He created us. We do not have the power to change what we did in the past, but we do have the power to change what we do today, that power is Jesus Christ. Praise God!

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and rest of the week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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