Why Not Try Repenting?

You must serve only the LORD your God. If you do, I will bless you with food and water, and I will protect you from illness. [Exodus 23.25]

Here's a promise!

But it is a promise with condition, isn't it?

The condition? Serve only the LORD your God.

Who determines what qualifies as serving only the LORD your God? Well, obviously, that would be the LORD your God!

So, if we are not blessed with food and water and if we experience illness... It is God teaching us something? Or maybe God's Word is just a good idea, but there is no way we can be sure His Word applies to every situation? Or, regardless of what God said, circumstances are reality and God won't impose on reality?

Hello!

Every promise of God is sure. And, if there are conditions upon the promise, and the promise is unfulfilled, then the only possible reason is that the conditions have not been met!

You see, Christianity has been infiltrated with the terrible disease of pride. We have reasoned ourselves out of non-compliance with God's conditions (serve only the LORD your God) and declared "no fault" on our part claiming some "mysterious higher purpose" on the part of God as the reason for our lack or sickness. In fact, we have refused to assume guilt on our part and instead blamed God (but very religiously and reverently, of course).

I am thinking just now of the circumstance where Jesus' disciples asked "Who sinned, this man or his parents?" to which Jesus replied, "Neither, this is for the glory of God." Okay, there may be something here more to be understood, but the end result (on God's part) remained the same - the guy was healed! And, although Jesus claimed innocence for the man and his parents, it seems I just read this week that punishment can extend to third and fourth generations (Exodus 20.5 is worth reading).

But the point is, Kingdom thinking - truly seeking the Kingdom of God first and foremost above and beyond all else - is humble. Kingdom thinking (true Kingdom thinking) would never put blame on God. But that is precisely what modern Christians have done.

Here's a homework assignment: when dealing with lack or sickness next time, why not try repenting?

For most of us, even the thought of such talk is repulsive. After all, when "we are hurting" would not common decency suggest that we not discuss "blame" in the midst of hard times? "Let's just get through this" right?

Back to the point - Kingdom thinking. I think sometimes we get a little too spiritual when it comes to our own "seeking the Kingdom" and we forget the "part of the prayer" where Jesus instructed us to pray for forgiveness (and then after giving the prayer instruction, came back to more fully discuss the repentance/forgiveness part). A little look at the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 would be good too.

Father, forgive me for all the pride that rises up in me when I would rather feel sorry for myself as if You had betrayed me instead of repenting for my own life and actions!