Avoiding the Seasons of Disobedience

Has a "moment of weakness" ever resulted in a Season of Disobedience in your life?

Take a closer look at the phrase "moment of weakness". We hear this statement a lot but I doubt we identify it as what it is; the first act of disobedience. I would bet most believe that they have not sinned at this point. Isn't a sin a sin no matter how long you are engaged in it or how much you wish you hadn't done it?

Remember the very first time a moment of weakness turned into a season of disobedience on earth? We are still subject to the consequences of that sin. Women remember it with each contraction and all of creation is experiencing life outside of the paradise God originally intended for man because of it.

How about David? You may think that his moment of weakness took place on the roof, but it started long before that. Whether David stayed behind because he was irresponsible in carrying out his royal duties or because he trusted Joab to effectively lead his army, he was avoiding his duty as King and according to the NLT Study Bible this was the first mention of a leader of Israel staying off the battlefield at a time of war.

2 Samuel says that David got out of bed after his midday rest and went up to the roof to look over his kingdom. As he is taking in the city you can imagine him saying "Wow, thank you God, for all you have provided. I am so blessed." As he breathes in the Spring air his eyes rest on a beautiful woman. He walks back from the edge and tells himself that the thought that just raced through his mind is not an option. But then again, he is the king and she was very beautiful. Perhaps he should take one more look to make sure he had seen correctly. We all know that this season of disobedience in David's life lasted for a long period of time and led to adultery, lies, murder and death. It ended only when David confessed to Nathan that he had sinned against the Lord. Nathan shared with David that he was forgiven and that he would not die but that the consequence of his sin would be the death of the child that resulted from the affair with Bathsheba. After his time of mourning David joined his army on the battlefield and they overtook the city of Rabbah.

There are many other examples in the Bible and in the news, but the one you should be most concerned about is your own. Have you been there? Learn from your mistakes-confess, repent, get accountability in your life and live the rest of your days in glorious obedience to God. The temptations are going to come. Laziness, greed, gossip, lust, envy to name a few. 1 Peter calls us to faithfulness under pressure. It is clear that Holiness is God's desire for our lives.

So what do you do when the opportunity presents itself? How do you avoid the infamous "moment of weakness"? Set your mind on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Be a man or woman of courage and integrity. Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, all of your soul and all of your mind. When you love someone, you want desperately to please them. It is no different with Jesus.


James 1:14-15
Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. (NLT)