Our Part, Then His

By: Jenifer Metzger

And My people, who bear My

name, humble themselves, pray

and seek My face, and turn from

their evil ways, then I will hear

from heaven, forgive their sin,

and heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14 CSB

God gives us clear direction in 2 Chronicles 7:14. He tells us that we have some actions steps to take before He does His part.

We must:
•bear His name
•humble ourselves
•pray
•seek His face
•turn from evil

After we do those things, then He will:
•hear us
•forgive us
•heal us

We often expect God to hear our prayers, forgive our sins, or heal our illness before we do any of our part. We continue living in sin and we fail to truly seek Him, yet we expect God to hear us. But let's notice that four letter word in this verse: then. We do our part, then God will do His.

However, if you turn away and abandon

My statutes and my commands that I have

set before you and if you go and serve

other gods and bow in worship to them,

then I will uproot Israel from the soil that

I gave them, and this temple that I have

sanctified for my name I will banish from

My presence; I will make it an object of

scorn and ridicule among all the peoples.

2 Chronicles 7:19-20 CSB

But then we look at verse 19 and see an important word there too: however. However if we don't bear His name, humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from our evil ways, if we abandon His ways and His commands, not only will God not do His part, but He clearly tells us there will be punishment.

We have to stop expecting God's hand of blessing in our country when we have so much vile evil going on. We have to stop expecting God's hand of blessing in our marriage when we fail to put God at the center and treat our spouse so poorly. We have to stop expecting God's hand in our finances when we fail to honor God with our money and obediently pay out tithe. We have to stop expecting His hand of blessing when we are not doing what He commands us to do!

Friend, it is time to closely look at our lives. Are we truly bearing His name, humbling ourselves, praying, seeking Him, and turning from evil? Are we truly living by His Word and commands? Or are we floating through life doing the "bare minimum" and sitting here waiting on God's blessings to rain down?

Discussion:

1. Closely look at different situations in your life. Is there an area where you haven't done your part according to 2 Chronicles 7:14?
2. Today commit to truly living this verse out and doing your part before God.