How to get right with God

“David asked the Gibeonites, ‘What shall I do for you?  How shall I make atonement so that you will bless the Lord’s inheritance?’” 2 Samuel 21:3.

“After that, God answered prayer in behalf of the land.”  2 Samuel 21:14.

Verses chosen from today’s Bible reading: 2 Samuel 21-23, and 1 Thessalonians 1.

David knew that something was wrong.

Saul had abused the Gibeonites after the Israelites had sworn that they would spare them.

Now David, wanting to please God, chose to try making things right.

If we expect to be blessed by God, we must have our spiritual act together.

We can have sins of commission (things we do) and omission (things we should have done).  If our prayers are genuine then we will be reminded of either and/or both of those sins.

Information is one thing but action can be another.

One of the best prayers is, “Lord, what do You want me to do or not do?”  We’re asking God to reveal places our corrections are essential.

If I know that something needs changing and choose to ignore action then God becomes remote.  David knew that to be blessed by God, things had to be made right with the Gibeonites.

I’ll spare the details (they’re Old Testament gory) but things were made right.  Then comes the wonderful verse, “After that, God answered prayer in behalf of the land.”

I cannot carry known sin.  I must recognize it, confess it, and if needed, do something about it.  Short of that, I’m going to lose a close relationship to God.

“Lord, You are a great God.  Forgive me for carrying sin’s burden so often.  Wash me, I beg. What do you want me doing and/or not doing?  I crave to know this so that I can get things right with You.  Help me, Father.”

St. Lucia

Where can I find wisdom and understanding?

“But where can wisdom be found?  Where does understanding dwell?”  Job 28:12

(Verse chosen from today’s Bible reading – Job 28-29 & Galatians 1-2)

It is a never-ending search, isn’t it?

We all have a drive to know things.  We want to know what to do, and when to do it.

In myself, I don’t have God’s answers.

When I try to sort things out on my own I am asking for trouble.

When Joshua (Joshua 9) accepted the lies the Gibeonites told him as truth, and agreed to protect them, he did so without “inquiring of God.”  Joshua should have known better.

When I set out on things without “inquiring of God,” I am spiritually wrong.

I need to align myself with God from the get-go of each day.  I need to renew that alignment as the day unfolds.

If I am close to God, I will avoid the pitfalls that godlessness leads to.

“O Lord, I need You full-time.  I need to be in relationship with You so that every decision has You involved.  Jab my conscience when I start to go solo.  I fear doing that.  Guide me, O thou great Jehovah!”

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