(Hebrews 11:6)…..6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
A right relationship with God does not happen by accident it requires faith, and a diligence in seeking Him. I preached on seeking the Lord this last Sunday, and even used this verse in the sermon to show God’s expectation that He has of His people to seek Him. Seeking God has been talked about in many religious circles, but unfortunately, much that is called “seeking God” is little more than an exercise in emotionalism, or self-gratification. So what does it mean to seek God? First, let’s consider some things that seeking God is not. These things will certainly accompany seeking God, but alone these things don’t necessarily mean that a person is seeking God. Activities such as Church membership, Church attendance, Bible study, prayer, helping others, evangelism (ex. Matthew 23:15), or love for the truth (ex. John. 7:17).
Let’s consider some things that seeking God is. Seeking God would involve growing in obedience to Him and His word, with a desire to love and honor God more each day. It would involve having a deep longing to be closer to God. As I said on Sunday, “closer to Him than our sins have allowed us to be in the past!” This is a conscious, deliberate goal that we reach for (Philippians 3:13-14). We might find such a thought in the scriptures described as (1.)…Desiring God (Psalm 27:4). (2.)…Loving God with all our heart (Matthew 22:37-38). (3.)…Earnestly calling on the Lord (Psalm 145:18) (Isaiah 55:6). When we seek God, we are seeking to relate ourselves rightly to His glory (Philippians 1:20).
What does God promise to those who seek Him?
(Jeremiah 29:12-13)…..“Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”
(Matthew 7:7-8)…..“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”
Today is a good day to seek our God. So are we seeking to fill our minds more and more with the knowledge of God? Are we seeking to bring our thoughts, our words, and our deeds more into line with the will of God? Are we seeking more and more to engage in praise and worship to God? Are we seeking more and more to be with the people of God? There are many who have grown up in sound, faithful congregations and never learned what it means to have a real desire for God, and a real desire to seek Him. Religion doesn’t teach this. It is found and taught in a deep relationship and fellowship with Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:3). Seeking God is not only about serving Him, it is also about desiring Him. Do you desire Him? (Psalm 27:4)…..“One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD allthe days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple.” Having a deeper (growing) desire for the Lord every day is what this life is all about!