King David was considered a man after God’s own heart, (1 Samuel 13:14) yet the scriptures are very open and truthful about many of his shortcomings. His adultery, murder, pride, and many scandals within his household. David was far from perfect, but he acknowledged it and repented of it.
When the prophet Nathan confronts David in 2 Samuel 12 about his adultery and murder, David had a few options of how he could have responded. He could have made excuses that he was the king and could do whatever he wanted to do. He could have told Nathan to take his negativity somewhere else and that he didn’t want to hear that. But instead of using his power to justify his sin, he repents before God because he recognizes that although he is king, God is still greater, and he answers ultimately to God. Romans 2:5 gives this warning:
“But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.” (Romans 2:5 NIV)
No one is perfect, but when we make excuses for our sin, instead of acknowledging God’s better way, we harden our hearts to living God’s way. God is in the business of working with imperfect people, but when we can’t admit that we are imperfect and repent, we don’t give God much to work with. I encourage you today to take your sins, mistakes, and failures to God and exchange them for His unfailing love and forgiveness.
Dear Heavenly Father, when I sin and make mistakes, thank you for forgiving me of my sins, and giving me the courage to repent to You. I surrender my pride and hardened heart over to You and receive Your grace to move forward. In Jesus’ name, amen.