The fear of the Lord, holds as its foundation, our submission to the word God has spoken. “If” I will, then God will. While we are always quick to attach ourselves to the promises in God’s word, many times we overlook the condition that comes, with this little word, IF! I’ve highlighted some IF’S and have deliberately left off the promises that follow so we can focus today on making sure our lives are properly aligned to His standard.
Deut 11:13
And IF you will indeed obey my commandments that I command you today, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul…
Ex. 15:26
There the Lord made for them a statute and a rule, and there he tested them, saying, “IF you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes…
2 Chron 7:14
IF my people who are called by my name will humble themselves …….
Proverbs 2:1
My son, IF you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, 2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; 3 yes, IF you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 IF you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, 5 then …..
Malachi 1:6
6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. IF then I am a father, where is my honor? And IF I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name.
Malachi 2:1
And now, O priests this common is for you.2 IF you will not listen, IF you will not take it to heart to give honour to my name, says the Lord of hosts, then I will ….
Zechariah 3:7
Thus says the Lord of hosts: IF you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then….
John 13:17
IF you know these things, …
John 14:6
IF you love me…
We see, in all these scriptures, the honour and value God places on the freedom He has given us in choice and yet, over and over He shows us what is right and that which will bring us life.
Deut. 30:19 “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live…”
If is a pretty big word that must be met before the promise can be assured. Let’s not overlook or dismiss them in an attempt to just gain a promise. Our lives our shaped by the IFS we have aligned to.