Moms know. In fact, they’ve always known. There is tremendous power in the word ‘IF.’
I don’t know if any other word has so instantaneously changed the course of a child’s life than that word. Chances are you’ve lived it. That moment you’re about to take that toy off the shelf, grab another piece of candy or pull your sister’s hair, that’s when it happens. You hear mom’s voice from across the room, “If you touch that one more time…”
The word wielded such power that she often didn’t have to even finish the sentence. You just knew that what came after that was not good. It stopped you in your tracks.
As impressive as your mom might have been at using this profound two-letter word, you should know that she got it from God. And if you think she’s good at using it, take a look at these verses and see the master at work.
Here’s how God uses the powerful word ‘IF.’
1. IF you listen
Exodus 15:26
He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all His decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.”
2. IF you don’t listen
Leviticus 26:14-16
“However, if you do not listen to me or obey all these commands, and if you break my covenant by rejecting my decrees, treating my regulations with contempt, and refusing to obey my commands, I will punish you.
3. IF you declare
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
4. IF you forgive and IF you don’t
Matthew 6:14-15
If you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
5. IF you sin
1 John 2:1
My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.
6. IF the Son sets you free
John 8:36
If the Son sets you free, you are truly free.
7. IF you seek Him
1 Chronicles 28:9
Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
8. IF the world hates you
John 15:18-19
If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.
9. IF you have faith without action
James 2:17
Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
10. IF you love
John 13:35
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
11. IF you don’t give up
Galatians 6:9
Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
12. IF you are in Christ
2 Corinthians 5:17
If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
Think it over:
- What IF you started following Jesus with your whole heart?
Verse of the Day:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
