IF I....then He

Partnership Promises

Ezekiel 11:17-21

Therefore say: “This is what the Lord God says: I will gather you from among the nations and assemble you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.  When they return and cast away all of their loathsome things and detestable practices, I will give them one heart, placing a new spirit within them. I will remove their stubborn heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.

When they live by My statutes, keep My ordinances by practicing, then they shall be My people, and I will be their God. But to those whose hearts delight in loathsome things and detestable practices, I'll bring the consequences of their behavior crashing down on their own heads, declares the Lord GOD.”

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The Lord gave these words to Ezekiel to tell the leaders of the Jewish people. God made them a promise...that He would return them to their promised land. But with many of God’s promises, there are conditions:

• IF they turn away from loathsome things AND

• IF they cast away detestable practices AND

• WHEN they live by His statutes AND

• WHEN they keep and practice His ordinances 

• ....THEN they will be called “My People”  

• ....THEN He will be their God

IF I, then HE...

...but God also promised that IF WE (continue our bad behavior) then HE will “bring consequences crashing down on our head.”

As we reflect on the monstrous things that continue to go on in our country and across the world right now – the WEForum.org terrorism; the failures of congress; the lame responses of governors and blind eyes of state legislators, and the complete meltdown of the SCOTUS, we need to remember something: Each of those nameless characters are human beings. They have not upheld their oaths of office. They have shredded our constitution, poisoned the soil, water, and air of our country. They have murdered millions of American people and injured and/or killed billions of people around the world.

As I read the verses the Lord gave me today, I wondered: What consequences will be crashing down on their heads, delivered by the Living God?

Reflecting back on the disturbing things that have happened to each of us individually and collectively since March 2020, have we as a Nation changed our behaviors changed? Have we individually given up ‘detestable practices’ - even the little things that are unpleasant to the Lord? Where can we say, “IF I....then He”

TODAY’S PRAYER:

Dear Lord, forgive us for our shortcomings. Forgive our impatience, our lack of courage. Forgive us for being subservient to the WRONG MASTERS.

Lord, humble our hearts. Give us strength and endurance for the days ahead. Give us guidance for how to serve You better. Show us how to bring more glory to Your name.  

Lord, You declared, and it is written in Your Word, “For all that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.” (Luke 8:17)

Your Word admonished us to “be careful how we listen; for whoever has [a teachable heart], to him more [understanding] will be given; and whoever does not have [a longing for truth], even what he thinks he has [knows] will be taken away.”  (Luke 8: 17-18).

Lord, we yearn for more of You. We hunger to be more like You. Give us a teachable heart and ears to hear. Thank You for being with us through challenging times and through the best of times. Lord, as we move further into uncharted waters, increase our desire to lean in.  You promised to never leave nor abandon us; we trust You, that this is so. 

Continually remind us that IF WE follow the commands of Your Word, THEN YOU will absolutely be with us every step of the way until we see Your Holy face and dwell with You forever in Eternity. They will be done. We as for these things, this or something better, in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.