Devotional by Dr. Dora Washington, Founder & Executive Director

It can be good when we use power, influence, and determination to achieve our goals or obtain the things we desire in life. However, the story of King David shows us a different perspective. He misused his power and influence—not to do what was right, but to commit sin. He took Uriah’s wife for himself and orchestrated Uriah’s death. This misuse of power came at a great cost, for sin is always costly.

David forgot that the same God who granted him the power to become king was also watching to ensure he wielded it with justice and righteousness. You may wonder, “How could David forget?” The truth is, forgetting the right path is easy when it doesn’t align with what we want to believe, contradicts our desires, or feels different from what we’ve been taught. In this instance, David was led by his flesh. He saw a beautiful woman, desired her, and acted impulsively—similar to how Samson once demanded, “Get her for me.”

There is always a cost for what we get and it is always more expensive than we thought. Uriah lost his life. David experienced the loss of three of his children and his kingdom suffered years of violence and turmoil. His failure to exercise self-control set his family on a path of pain and suffering. The price of his sin was costly and the same holds true for us.

Here’s an important lesson to remember: God forgives, but He does not excuse the consequences of our sin.

Let us consider the price before we act on impulse and say, “Go get it, her or him for me.”

Written by Dr. Dora Washington
Tower of Hope Ministries
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