A little WORD called IF.

We can be SO hard headed! Missing Gods blessing for what...for our own selfishness,
for pride?
Why in the world would we exchange all these great blessings for the consequences of disobeying?

That's the nature of man. To rebel. To do it our own way! Gods love is unconditional, but His promises do have conditions!

He does not say, live like you want, do as you please, worship other gods and I will bless you. I don't see that anywhere in the bible!

What we do see is this.
IF ....

“ ‘If you remember my laws and commands and obey them, (Leviticus 26:3 NCV)

Then...the blessings come!

‘For I will look on you favorably and make you fruitful, multiply you and confirm My covenant with you. (Leviticus 26:9 NKJV)

Who don't want Gods favor? Come on... What is worth not having that ? We don't
deserve Him even looking at us, much less talking with us, accepting us as His very own kids....but He says...

"I'll set up my residence in your neighborhood; I won't avoid or shun you; I'll stroll through your streets. I'll be your God; you'll be my people. (Leviticus 26:11, 12 MSG)

God! Living with us! Talking and living among us! IN US! Too good to be true?
Not if we live for Him, live our lives obeying Him, seeking to please Him, treating Him with honor and respect...

However, we can be rebellious children. Do you get that word 'children'... Yes, we are HIS! We are saved, but if we continue to live like we're not....well then...

"But if you refuse to obey me and won't observe my commandments, despising my decrees I'll turn my back on you and stand by while your enemies defeat you. People who hate you will govern you. You'll run scared even when there's no one chasing you. (Leviticus 26:14,17 MSG)

You know why I say we're hard headed? Because all this can happen and we will go for another round of chastisement!

"And if none of this works in getting your attention, I'll discipline you seven times over for your sins. I'll break your strong pride: I'll make the skies above you like a sheet of tin and the ground under you like cast iron. No matter how hard you work, nothing will come of it: No crops out of the ground, no fruit off the trees. "If you defy me and refuse to listen, your punishment will be seven times more than your sins: (Leviticus 26:18-21 MSG)

And more and more and more...... Because of stubbornness! We exchange blessing for pain and heartache! It's all orchestrated by the enemy Satan, but we keep falling for it!
But we can open our eyes, wise up, change our attitude at any time and God will still come back and bless us !

"On the other hand, if they confess their sins and by some chance they soften their hard hearts and make amends for their sin, For their sake I will remember the covenant with their ancestors whom I, with all the nations watching, brought out of Egypt in order to be their God. I am God." (Leviticus 26:40a 41b 45 MSG)

Consequences to sin... Oh yeah. We don't get off scott free from doing all that stuff!

"They'll pay for their sins because they refused my laws and treated my decrees with contempt. But in spite of their behavior, while they are among their enemies I won't reject or abhor or destroy them completely. I won't break my covenant with them: I am God, their God. (Leviticus 26:43, 44 MSG)

In spite of what we do, He'll forgive us. Spank us, oh yes, that's our Daddy, but love us, He always will!
He still wants to bless! And He will! Come on...let's not exchange His glory for a bunch of crap that destroys us!

I'll give you my full attention: I'll make sure you prosper, make sure you grow in numbers, and keep my covenant with you in good working order. You'll still be eating from last year's harvest when you have to clean out the barns to make room for the new crops. (Leviticus 26:9, 10 MSG)

Why waste years? There's too much to do with our Father, and for His kingdom!
Lord, help us to remember that little word called.....IF!
And to obey YOU!

Created over 1 year ago