SUMMARY: Ripple effect
OVERVIEW: Saul broke the covenant with Gibeon, and years later, Israel suffers the consequences.
BIG IDEA: The consequences of sin are long-lasting.
KEY VERSE: 2 Samuel 21:1 (explanation of the famine)
There was a famine during David’s reign that lasted for three years, so David asked the Lord about it. And the Lord said, “The famine has come because Saul and his family are guilty of murdering the Gibeonites.”
IF GOD WROTE YOU A LETTER
Your words and actions matter and impact those around you. They produce a ripple effect, possibly influencing generations of family members. You may think your bad habits are hidden and don’t hurt anyone. And you may die with your secrets, but it’s also possible they will surface years later. Do you want your great-grandchildren to celebrate your life or ignore it? Will your life have a positive or negative effect?
Don’t stress yourself out, thinking you have to live a perfect life. That’s a burden no one should bear, and it’s a goal no one can reach. You can, however, ask me for help with any sinful patterns or tendencies. You can also strive to keep your promises, be reliable, and stay faithful. Focus on pleasing me. Don’t make commitments or agree with people to gain their acceptance. I accept you and love you as my child. In your interaction with others, choose your words carefully, and follow through on your commitments. Be known as a God-fearing person who loved and served others and kept promises.
NEXT STEP
Do not keep any secrets. Is there any unconfessed sin in your life? Talk to God about it, and if any of it impacts another person, confess to him or her. Bring the dark to the light so that there can be healing.
MUSIC VIDEO