" THE WARNINGS AND PROMISES OF GOD "

Good Day, come on in and sit awhile. You know it's great to have you aboard. This week we will be looking into the "Warnings and Promises of God".

" And 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, will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

This verse certainly gives us much to ponder. God was asked to make provisions for the people when they sinned. God gave four provisions for when his people disobeyed.

(1) humble yourself by admitting your sins
(2) pray to God, asking for forgiveness
(3) ask God continually
(4) turn from sinful behavior

True repentance is more than talk - it is changed behavior. Whether we sin individually, as a group, or as a nation, following these steps will lead to forgiveness. I believe that God will always answer our earnest prayers.

Now, when we realize that we have sinned, we should quickly ask God for forgiveness and restoration. OK, put your listening ears on... Humbling ourselves means recognizing that our worth comes from God alone. To be humble involves working with His power according to His guidance, not with our own independent effort. Although we do not deserve God's favor, He reaches out to us in love and gives us worth and dignity, despite our human shortcomings.

In many places, the Word of God warns us not to " HARDEN OUR HEARTS." Now this means stubbornly setting ourselves against God so that we are no longer able to turn to Him for forgiveness. The Israelite's became hard hearted when they disobeyed God's command to conquer the Promised Land (here called " When They Provoked Me,"). Be careful to obey God's Word, and do not allow your heart to become hardened.

Until next time...
Jim