Wednesday, January 28, 2015

If My People Humble Themselves

Acts of Worship
Stewardship for Life


Feasting and Fasting

2 Chronicles 7:11-18  The Message

God’s Confirmation

11 Solomon completed building The Temple of God and the royal palace—the projects he had set his heart on doing. Everything was done—success! Satisfaction!
12-18 God appeared to Solomon that very night and said, “I accept your prayer; yes, I have chosen this place as a temple for sacrifice, a house of worship. If I ever shut off the supply of rain from the skies or order the locusts to eat the crops or send a plague on my people, and my people, my God-defined people, respond by humbling themselves, praying, seeking my presence, and turning their backs on their wicked lives, I’ll be there ready for you: I’ll listen from heaven, forgive their sins, and restore their land to health. From now on I’m alert day and night to the prayers offered at this place. Believe me, I’ve chosen and sanctified this Temple that you have built: My Name is stamped on it forever; my eyes are on it and my heart in it always. As for you, if you live in my presence as your father David lived, pure in heart and action, living the life I’ve set out for you, attentively obedient to my guidance and judgments, then I’ll back your kingly rule over Israel—make it a sure thing on a sure foundation. The same covenant guarantee I gave to David your father I’m giving to you, namely, ‘You can count on always having a descendant on Israel’s throne.’
 
For Reflection

How do you react to people who are puffed up in their faith?  How can one be credible if his faith advocates humility and the faithful person is not?  Maybe it is just because of inconsistencies in faith and action like this and others that is resulting a reduction in religiosity but not in spirituality.  " I believe in God," they say, " but i'm just not religious."  What does the ever increasing numbers of people that indicate they feel this way mean for the survival of God fearing people?

Pray
for those who claim the name of God either in a faith community or not.  Pray that they will not doubt in the face of fearful circumstances.  Pray that all who claim God's name will unite to meet the terror of common place cultures.

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