Monday, June 18, 2018

MONDAY MORNING!

"If ..."

If (no pun intended) we are honest with ourselves we would probably find that we all use the word, "if", more times than we care to mention or keep up with. It can mean: 1. in the event of; allowing that; on condition that; 2. whether; 3. an exclamation expressing a wish; 4. even though. Here I think we will find it  means -- "on condition that".  In all of scripture where "if" is used we find that 54% of the time that is the meaning. Let's look at the entire verse:

The Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Obed. He went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you."
-- 2 Chronicles 15:1-2

To paraphrase: "on the condition you seek Him, He will be found, but on the condition you forsake Him, He will forsake you." Now, I know the Word here is speaking specifically to King Asa and the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Nevertheless, I do not want to entertain for even a brief moment the thought or idea of me forsaking God and He forsaking me. 
But, that "if" denotes a choice for King Asa. We read later in 2 Chronicles 16 that King Asa chose not to seek the LORD. In essence, forsaking Him.

In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the LORD, but only from the physicians.
-- 2 Chronicles 16:12

What an extremely sad way to end -- not seeking help from the LORD. So hard for me to understand because of knowing that Asa knew better. He was warned! Which brings me to another scripture that I hope we all let rule in our lives.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
-- Matthew 6:33

Bottom Line: May we come to realize without a doubt that when the LORD is with us we are with Him. May we come to realize that as we seek Him and His righteousness He will never leave us nor forsake us. And, may our "if" always be one of seeking Him so that He will be found by us. Amen? Amen! 



 


  

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