SUNDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER 2024
TEXT:
2 Chronicles 7:11-21
11.
Solomon completed building the Temple of God and the royal palace – the
projects he had set his heart on doing. Everything was done – success!
Satisfaction!
12.
God appeared to Solomon that very night and said, “I accept your prayer; yes, I
have chosen this place as a temple for sacrifice, a house of worship.
13.
If I ever shut off the supply of rain from the skies or order the locusts to
eat the crops or send a plague on my people,
14.
and my people, my God-defined people, respond by humbling themselves, praying,
seeking my presence, and turning their backs on their wicked lives, I’ll be
there ready for you: I’ll listen from heaven, forgive their sins, and restore
their land to health.
15.
From now on I’m alert day and night to the prayers offered at this place.
16.
Believe me, I’ve chosen and sanctified this Temple that you have built: My Name
is stamped on it forever; my eyes are on it and my heart in it always.
17.
As for you, if you live in my presence as your father David lived, pure in heart
and action, living the life I’ve set out for you, attentively obedient to my
guidance and judgments,
18.
then I’ll back your kingly rule over Israel – make it a sure thing on a sure
foundation. The same covenant guarantee I gave to David your father I’m giving
to you, namely, ‘You can count on always having a descendant on Israel’s
throne.’
19.
“But if you or your sons betray me, ignoring my guidance and judgments, taking
up with alien gods by serving and worshiping them,
20.
then the guarantee is off: I’ll wipe Israel right off the map and repudiate
this Temple I’ve just sanctified to honor my Name. and Israel will be nothing
but a bad joke among the peoples of the world.
21.
And this Temple, splendid as it now is, will become an object of contempt;
tourists will shake their heads, saying, ‘What happened here? What’s the story
behind these ruins?’
(The Message Version Holy Bible)
TOPIC:
CONDITIONS FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS
In today’s text, God
answers Solomon by giving him four conditions for the forgiveness of their
sins. The first is to humble themselves by admitting their sins.
Second, pray and ask
God for forgiveness. Third, keep seeking God continually and, lastly, make a
U-turn from sinful behavior.
This is an assurance
from God to Solomon which showed him an excellent way of obtaining forgiveness
for the sins of individuals, a group and a nation.
Following these steps
earnestly and genuinely lead to the forgiveness of sins.
QUESTION:
Are you prepared to follow the aforementioned steps whenever you are seeking
for the forgiveness of your sins?
PRAYER:
O God, please help me to seek You when things are going on well for me and when
things are bad for me, in Jesus name. Amen.
Remain
Blessed
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