Severe drought, mega storms, tornado outbreaks, rising ocean levels, global warming. There can be little doubt that nature is not 'normal', but are God's people to blame? At least some would say the solution is within their grasp. Consider:
"if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)
This verse has been popularly promoted as "God's promise for national blessings". Coupled with the previous verse - "If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people (2 Chronicles 7.13) - it certainly seems to reference nation and land. The question is, what nation and land? The land of the free and the home of the brave? Perhaps, but primarily the "land" of the people called by His (Yahweh's) name. The territory of God's people, the realm of His universal church, is the main focus.
That much being clarified, the bright promises of 2 Chronicles 2.14 might well be called God's "4-3 Plan" - if we'll do four things, He will do three things. If we, His people, will: (1) humble ourselves; (2) pray; (3) seek His face; (4) turn from our wicked ways, then He will: (1) hear from heaven; (2) forgive our sin; (3) heal our land. Four key conditions, and three great promises.
The "land" of the people of God involves lots of things; whatever our lives touch - work, school, home, marriage, church. If all is not well in our "territory", then God's prescription is the remedy.
Things not going well at work? Struggling with schoolwork? Is there tension and conflict in the home? Lack of communication and love in your marriage? Not excited about your church experience and involvement with kingdom work? A "yes" answer to any of these should draw us to God's "4-3" prescription in 2 Chronicles 7:14.
God wants to hear, forgive, and heal our territory. He wants to be actively involved with us in restoring healthy work places, schools, homes, marriages, and churches. He will do what He alone can do IF we will partner with Him through His important conditions. Humility, passionate prayer, decisiveness concerning wickedness - qualities indicative of wholehearted response - are absolutely prerequisite to the promises.
Laying the blame for natural disasters at the feet of the people of God hardly seems reasonable. But, such phenomena can serve to remind us of the need to recommit ourselves to God's important priorities in 2 Chronicles 7.14. These four essentials are always the need of the hour. May we commit to them fully, and experience His blessings abundantly.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2012
"if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)
This verse has been popularly promoted as "God's promise for national blessings". Coupled with the previous verse - "If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people (2 Chronicles 7.13) - it certainly seems to reference nation and land. The question is, what nation and land? The land of the free and the home of the brave? Perhaps, but primarily the "land" of the people called by His (Yahweh's) name. The territory of God's people, the realm of His universal church, is the main focus.
That much being clarified, the bright promises of 2 Chronicles 2.14 might well be called God's "4-3 Plan" - if we'll do four things, He will do three things. If we, His people, will: (1) humble ourselves; (2) pray; (3) seek His face; (4) turn from our wicked ways, then He will: (1) hear from heaven; (2) forgive our sin; (3) heal our land. Four key conditions, and three great promises.
The "land" of the people of God involves lots of things; whatever our lives touch - work, school, home, marriage, church. If all is not well in our "territory", then God's prescription is the remedy.
Things not going well at work? Struggling with schoolwork? Is there tension and conflict in the home? Lack of communication and love in your marriage? Not excited about your church experience and involvement with kingdom work? A "yes" answer to any of these should draw us to God's "4-3" prescription in 2 Chronicles 7:14.
God wants to hear, forgive, and heal our territory. He wants to be actively involved with us in restoring healthy work places, schools, homes, marriages, and churches. He will do what He alone can do IF we will partner with Him through His important conditions. Humility, passionate prayer, decisiveness concerning wickedness - qualities indicative of wholehearted response - are absolutely prerequisite to the promises.
Laying the blame for natural disasters at the feet of the people of God hardly seems reasonable. But, such phenomena can serve to remind us of the need to recommit ourselves to God's important priorities in 2 Chronicles 7.14. These four essentials are always the need of the hour. May we commit to them fully, and experience His blessings abundantly.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2012
posted by steve @ 8:07 AM
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