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
There is a tendency today among some individuals, and in some churches, to dilute the Word of God with the views of culture. This is nothing new. It comes from one of Satan’s original lies. When in the Garden, in Genesis 3:1, he asked Eve, “Did God actually say… ?” Today, he utters the same crafty question to both believers and non-believers: Did God actually say anything about abortion? Did God actually say anything about human sexuality? Did God actually say anything about money management? The church cannot stand when it mixes the truths of God with the false doctrines of the world. Standards cannot be lowered or God dishonored for the sake of a “more equitable society.”
The pastor of a church in Flagstaff, Arizona, says that compromising God’s values with the world’s values brings disastrous consequences to God’s people. In his book, No Place for Truth, Dr. David Wells argues that the church in America has lost its foundation in God-centeredness. An “if-then” solution for being re-aligned with God and His Word is provided in today’s verse, with four significant requisites. People who declare themselves to be followers of Christ Jesus must take on the cloak of humility. They need to pray, not just perfunctory “bless this” and “do that” prayers, but the kind that empties the heart before the throne of a loving and listening God. Seeking His face takes time immersed in the Word, “studying to show yourself approved” (2 Timothy 2:15, KJV), becoming a vessel the Lord can use. And repentance, a 180-degree turn from unrighteousness, needs to occur. When those things are done, God’s promise is to hear, forgive and heal.
Pray for Christ followers in America to hold onto truth without compromise. Pray that believers would be ready to speak the truth, in love, when opportunities arise. Pray especially for Christians in Congress to be committed to their relationship with the Lord and courageous in holding onto Biblical values.
Today’s Verse: 2 Chronicles 7:14
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.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Mark 12:13-17, 28-34, 38-40
13 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 15 But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” 17 Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him.
28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.
38 And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces 39 and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 40 who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
