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IF we don’t do the IF’s—THEN the THEN’s won’t happen!

In life, we all know there are always “results” or “consequences” to our actions, i.e:

In the things of the flesh, we acknowledge that: If we quit our job, then we may not be able to pay our bills; If we stop spending so much money at Starbucks, then we might be able to afford a new coffee maker; If we don’t shower for 2 weeks, then we will stink; If we study for the exam, then we will get a better grade. If we eat too much, then we will get fat.

In the things of God, listen to what God tells us about what we need to do if we want to know Him and understand Him; have Him guide our paths; have Him give us wisdom; have discernment; have Him protect us from evil and temptation.

IF you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;

IF you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,


IF you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,

THEN you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.

THEN you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways.

Ponder the above passage from Proverbs 2.

IF we don’t do the IF’s—do we actually think that the THEN’s will miraculously happen anyway? If we do, we are in essence calling God a liar. If our understanding of God is not based on His Word, but on our own finite and imperfect thoughts, then we do not truly know Him.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones."

"I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I understand; therefore I hate every false way."

Comments

Mel said…
Sheesh, that seems like a no-brainer, doesn't it?

Yesterday, God showed me why I love your blog so much... It's because so much of what you write, or share, is close to the exact expression of my heart about those same topics. He knows that I do not now and may never have time to sit and think or write long enough to actually articulate most of these ideas, so He graciously allowed our paths to cross. I have a nearly 40-page Word document full of my favorites of your posts, which is very nearly all of them. :) I'm getting ready to print it out so I can put it in my "take to church" folder to share with others.

Thank you SO MUCH for recommending that truly excellent article about parenting. I will be sharing that with others as well.

Have an awesome Saturday!

With MUCH LOVE in Christ, and a spirit that is singing with joy,
Mel

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