Read 2 Chronicles 7 at Bible Gateway.
2 chr 7:14, if my people 2012 nov 07
2 chr 7:14, humbling ourselves 2012 nov 08
“If My people who are called by My name will 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 Chr 7:14
God has laid out three requirements from His people (not from unbelievers or the unrighteous), on the roadmap to national restoration:
1) humbling ourselves;
2) praying and seeking His face;
3) turning from our wicked ways.
We are taking each requirement in turn and examining its biblical and Scriptural definition.
Now I was all ready to move on to the 2nd point today, but this morning I realized there was a second aspect to humbling ourselves. The first we examined yesterday: treating others with prideful arrogance, evil- speaking, and scorn, just because they hold a different opinion from ours.
But the second is this:
We have been entrusted with a great privilege in electing our national politicians. If you know anything of history, you know what a rare thing it is. However, it requires humility to hold that privilege in high regard, and treat it with the honor and reverence it deserves.
When we can’t be bothered to take ourselves to the polls on election day, and cast our ballot with respect and reverence, then we have scorned our great privilege that has been purchased for us in the blood of better men than we. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for another. The blood of our honored dead from the Revolutionary War onward cries out to the King of the Universe from the earth, so let us stop scorning their sacrifice, and humble ourselves and honor them, by partaking of the freedom and the privilege that they have purchased for us.
What of the problem of having to choose among a field of persons, none of whom we feel are godly or competent? It is a real dilemma and I understand the struggle, believe me, and the desire not to bestow power unwisely.
The fact of the matter is, someone will be granted power. If the righteous stay home, then it is only the unrighteous who are granting that power.
If we say that God can only use a perfect candidate who meets all of our criteria, that is not true. God raises up even pagans and the prideful for His purposes (Exo 9:16). It is up to us to hear from God, and then cast our vote accordingly. But to not spend any time in the presence of God to hear from Him, concerning THIS election for THIS time and THIS place, because we have already derisively dismissed the available field, is arrogance.
But if you are unhappy with the available field, then what are you doing, O men of God, to rectify matters? Repent of not being involved, and humble yourselves to serve your neighbor in this way, so that better men will be available in the future.
Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things!
Give heart and soul and mind and strength
To serve the King of Kings!
“If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves … I will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
2 chr 7:14, praying 2012 nov 12
2 chr 7:14, seeking His face 2012 nov 13
2 chr 7:14, seeking His face part two 2012 nov 14
2 chr 7:14, turning from wicked ways 2012 nov 15
2 chr 7:14, turning from wicked ways part two 2012 nov 16
learning righteousness and wickedness from the ten commandments 2012 nov 19
ten commandments topic study
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