Stronger Able to Handle the Truth

Strong Enough for the Truth 2Sa 12:1  Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him: "There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. 2Sa 12:2  The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds. 2Sa 12:3  But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him. 2Sa 12:4  And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him." 2Sa 12:5  So David's anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! 2Sa 12:6  And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity." 2Sa 12:7  Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 2Sa 12:8  I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! 2Sa 12:9  Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon. David had sinned with Bathsheba, attempted to cover his actions and arranged for Uriah to be killed. Although David and the kingdom had moved on, Scripture says, “the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.” God sent Nathan to confront David with the truth. The question for us is: Are we strong enough for the truth? 1. STRONG ENOUGH TO SAY WHAT NEEDS TO BE SAID God sent Nathan to David. Sometimes strength means having the difficult conversation we would rather avoid. Silence is not always peace. When we genuinely love someone, there are moments when love requires us to speak. Galatians 4:16: “Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?” Ephesians 4:15: We are called to speak the truth in love. The goal of biblical confrontation isn't to win the conversation — it's to win the person. 2. STRONG ENOUGH TO SEE YOURSELF IN THE STORY Nathan told David a story about a rich man who took a poor man's only lamb. David immediately recognized the man's wrongdoing, but Nathan declared: “You are the man!” — 2 Samuel 12:7 It's often easier to recognize someone else's mistakes than our own. Spiritual strength requires us to examine ourselves according to God's Word. Instead of becoming defensive when correction comes, we should ask: “Can I see myself in the story?” We cannot grow if we are unwilling to examine ourselves. 3. STRONG ENOUGH TO LET THE TRUTH CHANGE YOU 2 Samuel 12:13: “And David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the LORD.’” David finally recognized his own wrongdoing. Strength is not never being wrong. Strength is being mature enough to admit when you're wrong and being willing to change. Strong people can say: “I was wrong.” “I'm sorry.” “I shouldn't have handled it that way.” “With God's help, I CAN CHANGE!” Maybe becoming STRONGER isn't only about shouting louder, praying longer or knowing more Scripture. Maybe STRONGER means becoming strong enough to deal with ME. Truth may not always feel good, but my future needs it. Psalm 51:10: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Hebrews 4:16: Let us come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in our time of need. LORD, MAKE ME STRONG ENOUGH FOR THE TRUTH.