2nd Chronichles 7:14

"If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves,
and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then
will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will
heal their land. "

Even now as I write this, I am struggling with this very tall order. Humble, pray, seek, turn. This is our responsibility. God in turn will hear, forgive, and heal. This was His promise to the nation of Israel. It's our promise because we have been grafted in through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. This truly is the blueprint for a real relationship with God, but more importantly, obedience. There's that word. As people, we hate to think that anyone can control our lives. We are the masters of our own destinies! How many times have you heard that? Well, to a point that's true. We have the freedom to choose and do what we want, but with all choices, there are consequences. Good and bad alike. This verse is dealing with a people who are in open rebellion to God. The funny thing is, their His people! What a sad commentary on the state of affairs at that time in Israel. I mean, the history for them speaks for itself. Released from bondage from Egypt, the red sea parting, shoes that didn't wear out for 40 years in the wilderness, the list goes on and on. Here they are now, far from where God wants them spiritually. I can't help but make the comparison to the modern day church. Just flip on the T.V. and you can see just about anything claiming to be "Christian". Then there's the real church. The ones who believe. Just how far have we as His people, gone from God? I know if I examine my own life, it is a miserable failure almost on a daily basis sometimes. Now multiply that times the number of church goers and it has the potential to be a major disaster. I think what we see in the country as a whole, let alone the world, gives us a good indication of where we are. So what's the use your probably thinking right? Sign me up to that line of thinking. My flesh says that a lot. My spirit though says otherwise. It yearns for a real and meaningful relationship with the one who created me. Well the answer is in the text. If we do as it says, God holds His promise and will turn it around. Individually and corporately. Just look at Nineveh. One man's call for repentance and a whole nation turns there heart toward God. This is the truth of who God really is. He is a healer. He heals brokenness and replaces it with what is good and right. Who doesn't that? With another year drawing to a close, the upcoming year is unstable at best. Why not turn now and seek Him? I know for me, this is the most important thing to realize when I stumble and fall. I just grab His hand that is there waiting for me, get up and dust off, then keep moving forward. Sure, we take detours from time to time, but the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. God knows the way and has illuminated it by the light of His glorious son, Jesus Christ. Be blessed this week and pray for us as a country and a people. We need it more than we think.

Bob