Redeemed?

All Israel has disobeyed your instruction and turned away, refusing to listen to your voice. “So now the solemn curses and judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured down on us because of our sin. You have kept your word and done to us and our rulers exactly as you warned. Never has there been such a disaster as happened in Jerusalem. Every curse written against us in the Law of Moses has come true. Yet we have refused to seek mercy from the LORD our God by turning from our sins and recognizing his truth. Therefore, the LORD has brought upon us the disaster he prepared. The LORD our God was right to do all of these things, for we did not obey him. [Daniel 9.11-14]

How did Israel know they were cursed by God? Because they suffered everything Deuteronomy 28 said they would suffer for disobeying God (in the Law of Moses).

What does Deuteronomy 28 say will happen to those who disobey? Just about every undesirable thing that can be imagined - in summary, sickness, disease, destruction, devastation, and loss - all disasters.

Why do people today attribute these same disasters to random chance? Or, worse yet, why do people attribute these disasters to God without acknowledging their need to repent? Why do people see these disasters as some calling to deeper devotion without the need for repentance?

And, why do people say that all have sinned and are in need of Jesus, but do not believe forgiveness brings relief from the curses described above?

How did the people in the Old Testament know God forgave them? Because He delivered them from the curses they were experiencing. 

How do we know Jesus has redeemed us? Just because we believe it??? 

I can "believe" a mountain is moved all day long, but as long as it sits unmoved, my faith has done nothing!

At some point, we must acknowledge our unmoved mountains are indicators of a larger problem!

The blessings described also in Deuteronomy 28 are reserved for obedience. If the blessings are not seen, there is only one conclusion: obedience is not found and curses then are in order. 

There simply is no middle ground.

Got curses? Repent. Repent until the curses are gone. And, repent to keep them away!

Forgiveness will come through no avenue other than repentance. Forgiveness from Jesus is absolutely free, but ONLY the extended hand of repentance may receive it.

I have heard it said that "sin is in the world" and, because of that disasters continue upon all. Then, does not that statement beg us ALL to repent (whether we committed the actual offense or not)? And, does not our repentance then bring relief from curses?

The problem is, most of us are experiencing curses right now in some way or another. Some of us have "believed" with no change in our condition. Some of us have even "tried" repenting but with no change in our condition. And yet, our curses remain.

We must avoid the temptation to make our own religion, declaring ourselves innocent (in the face of curses that glaringly declare otherwise), declaring ourselves "saved" (in the face of curses that glaringly declare otherwise), and seeing no problem whatsoever with our flawed assumptions.

All I know is that most of us don't look and act very much like Jesus. Should that alone not alarm us into repentance? We claim to have the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, but are powerless to move a ball across a flat surface with our faith, let alone verbally confront and stop a storm.

I know my conclusions here are bleak. Am I the only one who is really concerned? This dark cloud only becomes darker the more I learn the Bible and God's Story. I can only conclude that I need to repent more and more often - I need to live repentant. But! My repentance should not be the end of it - my repentance should alter circumstances! My repentance should bring healing, deliverance, and provision. My repentance should bring relief from the barrage of curses present in, on, and around me.

Repentance is my extended hand to receive God's blessings - for myself and those for whom I intercede. Oh, we need them! How we want them! But the degree of our need and want will only be measured by our repentance.

The curses on my life say one thing: I have been measured, weighed, and found wanting.

I have been told recently that I need to go to the doctor. Here is my conclusion: you go to the doctor and I will repent. God is moved by faith.

Father, the pain and weakness I am suffering tell me I am in deep need of repentance. Teach me to repent. Help me to accurately see how repentance and faith go together Help me to see that faith is the only thing that pleases You, but is rendered powerless in the presence of an unrepentant heart. God please forgive me!