“And I will make their land famous for its crops, so my people will never again suffer from famines or the insults of foreign nations. In this way, they will know that I, the LORD their God, am with them. And they will know that they, the people of Israel, are my people, says the Sovereign LORD. You are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. You are my people, and I am your God. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!” [Ezekiel 34.29-31]
How do we know Yahweh God is with us? Our land will be famous for its crops and the people will never again suffer from famines or the insults of foreign nations.
But what if our land is not famous for its crops and we do suffer from famines or the insults of foreign nations?
Well, ...let's see, I imagine if there is not a doctrine that explains that, we'll just have to concoct one!
Is this (the statement above) not exactly what we have done? Have we not devised man-made doctrines to explain how our difficulties are not what God says they are, but instead something different? Have we not rejected what God has said about blessings being the result of obedience and curses being the result of disobedience when we deny that our difficulties are the result of sin?
Father, I confess that my difficulties are my own sinful doing. Even the difficulties clearly evident and visible to all who know me now are signs of my shortcomings. May You find me repentant so that I might be forgiven and restored. May my repentance include changing my mind and turning away from those things that bind me to the difficulties. May my repentance include changing my mind and turning away from all the idols (including myself) that have been the object of my trust instead of You, Holy Father.
No comments:
Post a Comment