Outrageous!

2 Samuel 12:24 "Then David comforted Bathsheba, his wife, and slept with her. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The Lord loved the child," Outrageous! Taken out of context this is a beautiful romantic snapshot into the life of an ideal marriage. But knowing the context makes this outrageous! This wife of David's was not too long ago the wife of a good man named Uriah. David and this other man's wife had sex, and then she became pregnant. To cover this shame up David saw to it that brave and loyal Uriah was abandoned on the battlefield and died. Then he took Bathsheba as his wife. Outrageous! He may never have faced up to it had not courageous Nathan confronted him. Outrageous! That child died, but now this union is blessed with another one-as if nothing had gone before. We know the story and so does God. God's apparent blessing of this unholy union is outrageous! Truth is it's outrageous grace. Truth is it is another proof that what God is most concerned about is not what we have done, but what we are doing. God does not hopelessly consign us to the sins of a past we can do nothing about, but gives us an ongoing fresh start at a whole new life anytime we need it and ask for it! Between what was and what is comes Psalm 51, where David confesses his sinful past and asks for a renewed spirit and clean heart (i.e. a fresh start with God). And God gives him just that. Outrageous! God really does grant an ongoing fresh start at life no matter what-no matter what-no matter how many times it's needed-no matter what. And thank God that the same outrageous grace, outrageous love, outrageous as many fresh starts as is needed applies to this sinner as well! The gospel Jesus taught and lived and offers to whoever will take it to heart and live it out breaks my heart-in the best way possible. Outrageous has saved me, continues to save me and forever will! Hallelujah! Amen!