2 Chronicles 7:19-22 "But if ye turn
away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you,
and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; (20) Then will
I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house,
which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make
it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations. (21) And this
house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it;
so that he shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and unto this
house? (22) And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD
God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and
laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath
he brought all this evil upon them."
This is not the type devotional that I relish to write. But, the charge laid upon me at my ordination was to preach the whole Word of God. Last Friday's devotional concerned the blessings of the Lord if Solomon and the people walked with the Lord. Today is the consequences of turning away from the Lord and seeking other gods to worship. It is very plain spoken and it really is not hard to be understood. If the people would not walk with God, then their cities and their nation would be turned into an astonishing sight. When the Lord draws His hands back from His people, there is certain destruction. We must understand that the consequences of turning away from God are those things which the Lord brings upon them.
I will be very plain spoken in this devotion and at this point, I do not intend to use a great deal of words. In my opinion, I am astonished as I look at the things which are happening in our nation. I see the destruction that is being wreaked upon many of our cities. I read and hear the hatred that is in the voices of people as they speak of one another. As I walk along the aisles of stores, even in small towns, I see suspicion in the eyes of others when we do not conform to their thinking.
Some might say these verses were only for the people of Israel. If these verses were only for Israel, then 2 Chronicles 7:14 was only meant for Israel. I believe all of these verses were meant for the children of God. They were given at the moment to Solomon and Israel, but they apply to us today also. Therefore, I can read them with hope in my heart. IF my people, that are called by my name, humble themselves and pray and seek my face and TURN from their wicked ways, THEN, I will hear their prayer and heal their land. NOW my eyes are open and my ears attent to the prayer that is made in this place. IF they walk with me, I will bless. IF they turn from me, I will destroy their land.
It's pretty simple isn't it? Whether it be on an individual basis or a national basis, we have two choices. We either walk with the Lord enjoy the blessings of His fellowship, or we continue to walk in our own way and watch our lives and our nation become a byword. The question this morning is this: Will I walk with the Lord and see things being turned around? He promised to heal our land when He hears our prayer.
This is not the type devotional that I relish to write. But, the charge laid upon me at my ordination was to preach the whole Word of God. Last Friday's devotional concerned the blessings of the Lord if Solomon and the people walked with the Lord. Today is the consequences of turning away from the Lord and seeking other gods to worship. It is very plain spoken and it really is not hard to be understood. If the people would not walk with God, then their cities and their nation would be turned into an astonishing sight. When the Lord draws His hands back from His people, there is certain destruction. We must understand that the consequences of turning away from God are those things which the Lord brings upon them.
I will be very plain spoken in this devotion and at this point, I do not intend to use a great deal of words. In my opinion, I am astonished as I look at the things which are happening in our nation. I see the destruction that is being wreaked upon many of our cities. I read and hear the hatred that is in the voices of people as they speak of one another. As I walk along the aisles of stores, even in small towns, I see suspicion in the eyes of others when we do not conform to their thinking.
Some might say these verses were only for the people of Israel. If these verses were only for Israel, then 2 Chronicles 7:14 was only meant for Israel. I believe all of these verses were meant for the children of God. They were given at the moment to Solomon and Israel, but they apply to us today also. Therefore, I can read them with hope in my heart. IF my people, that are called by my name, humble themselves and pray and seek my face and TURN from their wicked ways, THEN, I will hear their prayer and heal their land. NOW my eyes are open and my ears attent to the prayer that is made in this place. IF they walk with me, I will bless. IF they turn from me, I will destroy their land.
It's pretty simple isn't it? Whether it be on an individual basis or a national basis, we have two choices. We either walk with the Lord enjoy the blessings of His fellowship, or we continue to walk in our own way and watch our lives and our nation become a byword. The question this morning is this: Will I walk with the Lord and see things being turned around? He promised to heal our land when He hears our prayer.