“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV

“If My people who are called by My name …” 

God is talking to His family. He is speaking directly to us Christians. We have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and are adopted heirs of grace – Ephesians 1:5-6, Romans 8:15-17. We are beloved by the Lord, chosen for salvation – 2 Thessalonians 2:13a; for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but will have everlasting life – John 3:16. We believe in Him and are assured we will spend eternity face to face with Him in heaven. We praise God for salvation, as it delivers us from the power and effects of sin by Jesus Christ’s death on the cross and His resurrection – Romans 6:17-18, 8:3-4. It annihilates Satan’s hold on us – Romans 6:6. We experienced salvation through the Holy Spirit who sanctifies us, making us holy – 2 Thessalonians 2:13b, as the Holy Spirit opened our eyes to our sin and how our sin separates us from God, calling us to turn from our sin – Romans 8:2, 13-14, Galatians 5:18, and we have experienced this salvation by believing in the truth, Jesus Christ – 2 Thessalonians 2:13c, John 14:6, Romans 10:9, 13. God called us to salvation when we were told the Good News, Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins and rose again three days later so that we could live sharing in His glory – 2 Thessalonians 2:14, John 17:21-24. Therefore, everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God – 1 John 5:1; and every child of God can fearlessly enter His presence assured of His glad welcome – Ephesians 3:12. 

“… will humble themselves …” 

God is calling His people to submit to His Sovereignty, obeying His commands – 1 Peter 5:6, Matthew 22:37-39. He is on the throne, we are not – Revelation 4. God is all powerful – Revelation 19:6, Hebrews 1:3; ever present – Psalm 139:7-12, Proverbs 15:3; and all knowing – 1 Samuel 2:3, Psalm 139:1-6, Hebrews 4:13. We are not. 

When Eve accepted Satan’s enticement, division entered the world – Genesis 3:6; and humans’ loyalty became divided between God and the world – James 4:8b. Eve did not resist Satan and blatantly disobeyed God’s command to not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil – Genesis 2:17, 6. God told them very clearly that if they ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil they would die – Genesis 2:17; however, after hearing Satan say, “God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil,” Eve saw that the tree was good for food, pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make her wise – Genesis 3:5-6. 

Many people today disregard God’s commands, relying on their own knowledge of the situation. They do whatever is right in their own eyes. They reason using their own comprehension and judgment; but as we know everyone’s understanding on earth differs. When facts are missing or embellishment is added, the story changes. God’s Word, however, is absolute, never changing and stands the test of time while lies are exposed – Proverbs 12:19, Hebrews 13:8. 

Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh – John 1:14; He was in the beginning with God, everything was created through Him and He gave life to everything that was created and Christ’s life, the Word, brought light to everyone– John 1:1-4. “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it” – John 1:5 NLT. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Lord Almighty – Revelation 1:8.

God’s thoughts are not like our thoughts and His ways are far beyond what we can even imagine – Isaiah 55:8. His Word is truth and He sends it out to produce fruit and it always accomplishes what He wants it to, prospering everywhere He sends it – Isaiah 55:11. 

His commands give us life—Psalm 119:93; but our sin brings death – Romans 6:23.

So who are we to argue with what God has already set in stone from the beginning? Our disobedience to God’s commands makes us a friend of the world and an enemy of God – James 4:4. God rebukes the proud who stray from His commands – Psalm 119:21. In His perfect knowledge, He knows the depth of destruction for every act of disobedience – we don’t. He is calling us to humble ourselves, submitting to His Sovereignty, and resist the devil – James 4:7. God does not want us to have divided loyalties. 

Whom do we serve?

Will you pray with me?

Abba! You see every one of Your children — Hebrews 4:13, You alone know exactly where we all are in our walk with You. You see those who are blatantly sinning, despising Your commands; and You see those walking in truth in the fear of You. I pray, King, that we would all have the ears to hear Your voice calling us to submit to Your Sovereignty, obeying Your commands. You are God – we are not. For those Christians walking in apathy, Abba wake them up for salvation is nearer now than when we first believed – Romans 13:11. For those Christians blatantly sinning, I pray they realize they will reap what they sow – Galatians 6:7. Please stop them in Your perfect way before they hurt themselves even further and hurt those all around them; as every sin has an uncontrollable domino effect – Hebrews 12:5-10. Take out their hearts of stone, Lord, replacing them with a heart of flesh – Ezekiel 36:26. For those Christians who are weary, please remind them to not give up on doing good for at the right time they will reap a harvest of blessing if they do not give up and quit – Galatians 6:9. For those Christians who are doing good, experiencing blessings, King, please remind them to stir others up to love and good works – Hebrews 10:24; loving on all those around them, overflowing with the love You have poured out on them. Your perfect love casts out fear, and in this time of uncertainty with every nation seemingly housebound as the coronavirus has spread uncontrollably, we thank You for Your perfect love — 1 John 4:18. Your perfect love gives us assurance and is witnessed in the gift of the Holy Spirit who affirms we are adopted heirs of Your glory able to call You “Abba, Father” – Romans 8:15-17. We thank You and praise You because we know how much You love us; and as we live in You, You perfect our love so we will not be afraid on the day of judgment – we will be able to stand confidently before You because we live like Jesus in the world – 1 John 4:16-17. Thank You for every opportunity we receive to live like Christ here on earth – Philippians 1:22, 27-29. Lord, what do You want us to do? Search us all and know our heart, test us and know our anxious thoughts, point out anything within us that is not like Christ and lead us along the path of everlasting life – Psalm 139:23-24. Whatever area You Lord point out to us, I pray we all turn from our sin in repentance, turning to You, rejoicing – Matthew 3:8, Philippians 4:4; free from the weight that holds us back – Hebrews 12:1. We ask Lord, for You to heal our land, like You promised in 2 Chronicles 7:14, witnessed in the fulfillment of Romans 8:28-29; and we praise You for all those who are coming to know You through Jesus Christ right now – 2 Peter 3:9. You are in control! Thank You! We trust You with the outcome of the coronavirus, asking for Your ultimate will to be done! In Jesus precious name, Amen.