2 Samuel 11:1 (in part) And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle. … But David tarried still at Jerusalem.

When kings go forth…. Where was David? He was on the rooftop looking down on Bathsheba. For me this is more than about David’s coming sins. This was David not being the king in that moment. He had a role, he had responsibilities, and he failed to do what was expected of him. David was king. His identity was well established. His role and responsibilities well defined. What about the rest of us?

Do you know who you are in Christ? I do. My gifts have been identified, my role is clear. No matter how I respond to the needs of the church, those gifts and responsibilities do not change. There are times when I see a church need and I am willing to step up and say “Here I am, what do you need?” While my fellow workers appreciate the help, for the task is too great for the few who organize the effort, some are acting outside their gifts.

I can only suggest that this happens because some do not know who they are in Christ. That does not mean they are not saved. That does not mean they are slothful. It only means they have not yet met their full potential.

Judges 6:36-37 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.

Gideon did not doubt God, he doubted himself and was asking “Prove me!” Will you?

Psalm 26:2 Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

2 Timothy 1:13-14 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

I didn’t have a topic for today. I opened up my Biblegateway app to search the Word to see if the Lord had anything for me this day. Here in the verse of the day my eyes became fixed on the word form. I have a tendency to notice words. It was not clear to me what was meant here. This was the KJV so I looked at other translations to see if there was not some clarity to be found.

The NASB uses the word standard. The NIV uses the word pattern. In searching various other translations I noticed the message itself varied greatly. It became clear that others in an effort to bring clarity to this subject also struggled to grasp a consistent meaning.

An image from my past came into mind. I was younger, inexperienced and I was trying to build a box. I had the base and four walls and I was by myself trying to hold everything together to form the shape of the box. There were more pieces than I had hands to hold. I was actually embarrassed to think about how clumsy I was back then.

Verse 14 held a clue as to the meaning of form, it called it a thing. This thing was committed to me by the Holy Spirit. He who dwells in me. Then I got a glimpse of the meaning of form that took shape, not from the efforts of the hands that clumsily tried to hold it together but that by pressing in, the contents within gave shape, form and definition to the container, that thing, me.

Genesis 19:3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him,

2 Timothy 1:13-14 Hold fast the shape which God has fashioned you by the power of the Holy Spirit working in your inner most parts. (LIV) i.e. Larry’s Insight Version.