I was listening to a song a few days ago. I was singing and swaying right along with the melody. But as I listened to the lyrics, I stopped cold. Was the singer proposing, “God if you do THIS then I’ll do THAT”? My praise was cut short as I began to dissect the song even further. Perhaps she was suggesting the thing God had already done then her act of obedience.
Conditional sentences give implications and their consequences.
God is the author of the IF/THEN clause. It is the method by which He fulfills His promises to us.
If you carefully observe all these commands I am giving you to follow—to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him and to hold fast to him— then the Lord will drive out all these nations before you, and you will dispossess nations larger and stronger than you. Every place where you set your foot will be yours: Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the Euphrates River to the Mediterranean Sea. Deuteronomy 11:22-24
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua 1:8
If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? Luke 12:28
“If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15
If you give, you will receive
If you die to self, you will live
If you believe, you will be saved
If you are humble, you will be lifted up
If you abide, you will be fruitful
If you seek, you shall find
If you obey, you will prosper
So who initiates the IF/THEN? It is God who establishes the condition and it is my obedience that carries it out so that I can reap the reward or invite the consequence. Condition and consequence, that’s God’s If/Then strategy. God is waiting to show himself strong and mighty on your behalf. But are you delightfully, readily obeying Him?
The converse is most often the case. We want God to do something for us 1st, and then we claim we’ll comply afterward. Most people tend to want the blessing without the burden, the promise without the practice. Too often meeting the condition is neglected.
But I implore you dear friends, to take God at His word. Do YOUR part and stand and watch God DO His part.
So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. Matthew 17:20
I really like the song. I really like the artist. In the song, I truly hope she is suggesting her response to God’s condition. God spells out the condition, we reap the blessing or the consequence with our obedience or lack thereof.
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
John 8:31
As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!
Happy to connect with these sisters spreading the good news Purposeful Faith, #WordsWithWinter, #LifeGivingLinkup
Those are conditions that you get far better things than you bargained for. Very rewarding.
Lux,
Friend I totally agree! Delightful swift obedience yields high dividends. I’ve seen the fruit of this 1st hand in my life. I’m praying others unlock and receive this simple truth.
“Do YOUR part and stand and watch God DO His part.” This is a principal most do not like because it requires something from us. Sometimes is to “just wait on Him”, sometime it requires an action from us such as forgiveness. I love the face that He wants me to not be passive in my walk Him. Good post.
Betty,
Yes! Indeed SOMETHING is required of us. But if we are sensitive to the Holy Spirit, He will prompt us to DO and He’ll give us the grace to do it.
I was just talking with a sister Friday about this very topic! Very well put sis!
Perhaps you can share this post with her as a means of confirmation!