December 20 – Love and Seek Life

 ““I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me” 
“For he who finds me finds life And obtains favor from the Lord. But he who sins against me injures himself; All those who hate me love death.”– Proverbs 8:17; 35-36 (NASB)

 

This is the voice of Wisdom speaking. The first line of Proverbs 8 says “Does not wisdom call, and understanding lift up her voice?” The writer of these proverbs knew the value of wisdom and so in this and other chapters, Wisdom is given the voice. But it is truly the voice of our Lord God. We can know this from Proverbs 2:6 “For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” All that God says is wise and worthy to be accepted as a way to live our lives. In today’s promise we find that Wisdom loves those who love her and it is to them that she guides in the way of the Lord. The contrary promise is that those who hate Wisdom, and many do so, we find that what they love is death. Perhaps they do not think so or know so but anyone hating wisdom, so as to spurn it, is acting as if he loves death. Life comes to those who seek and find Wisdom and take it in. Praise be to God who gives us the path to wisdom and Wisdom itself becomes our gift from God.

 

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December 13 – Seek to Find

“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.” – 1 Chronicles 28:9  (NASB)

The books of First and Second Chronicles have much of the same historic accounts found in the books of the Kings. Today’s verse is an account of King David’s charge to his son Solomon as the throne of Israel is assumed by Solomon. David’s spiritual charge to Solomon resembles the Lord’s exhortation to Joshua (Joshua 1:6–9). Solomon asked God for and received the very “discretion and understanding” his father, David, desired for him. We have wonderful promises in these verses and perhaps one of the most potent ones is the promise that God will be found by those who seek Him.  Many times when non-believing people mock or ridicule God and our belief in His existence it is because they have never truly sought God. We believe the dual positive/negative promises here are absolute. Those who seek to find God will find him and that finding is the work of God. Those who forsake the search for God will find they remain as rejected as they ever have. Those who seek, find. Those who ask, receive. Those who knock, the door is opened. That is all it takes and it is God’s doing that saves us.

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October 6 – Essential Understanding

“The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.” -  Psalm 14:2 (ESV)

 Among the essentials we need to progress as Christians in our life here on earth is the essential ability of understanding. Understanding is spoken about frequently in the Bible. Understanding does not come naturally but through a process of learning. Our promise in today’s verse affirms the Lord’s inspection of our thoughts and deeds. The words translated “looks down” in the original Hebrew text include a verb that actually says “bent over” to look. In a very real sense all the children of men are made to pass in review before Him. Because God is omniscient, he knows everything about his creatures including those who believe and those who don’t believe God’s words. We cannot escape his will by redefining words and instructions in the Bible and make those difficult to accept more satisfactory to us in our day. Customs change what is accepted or rejected as good and evil. None of these changes cause the meaning of God’s Word to change. What was an abomination to God 4000 years ago still today what God hates. God is always looking to see if there are those among his creatures who are discerning and seek after Him.

 

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July 22 –Receive, Find, and Access Granted

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” – Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV)

Today’s passage is one we have considered previously but it is good and necessary for review. This is a training exercise we should do over and over and over again. So doing, it will become a natural response in times that we need God’s help. This is from what is called the Sermon On The Mount. Jesus was speaking to and teaching his disciples and many more who had gathered around him to listen to him teach. He was also speaking to us and this is a promise for us today. A promise we can take to heart and live by.  We all have needs throughout our life and Jesus knows that. We all are looking for the truth and knowledge and guidance. We all come to places where we might find our way closed. Jesus tells us to Ask for what we need and it will be made available; Seek what we are promised and we will find it; Knock when the door is closed and it will be opened. We can be thankful and rejoice to know that God responds to us when we ask, seek and knock. He is always there to respond.

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April 23 –The Keep Doing So Factor

“So I say to you, 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.” – Luke 11:9-10 (NASB)

In need? Ask. Receive. Lost? Seek. Find. On the outs? Knock at the Entrance. This is a promise. But these are not promises we will receive substantive goods. Not promises of material prosperity. Jesus is emphasizing the effectiveness of prayer. A threefold promise. The triple exhortation is as follows: ask, seek, knock. Arranged in an escalating scale of intensity. Ask. Asking suggests humility and a mindfulness of our need. When we asks, we expect an answer. This demonstrates a faith in God the Father. Having such a faith makes the prayer warm and personal. Seek. Seeking is asking plus acting. We must be active in striving to obtain the fulfilment of our needs. For example, as we pray for a deeper knowledge of the Bible, we should also diligently search and examine the Scriptures. Knock. Knocking is asking plus acting plus persevering. We are doing the knocking again and again until the door is opened. Another translation would be “continue to ask, to seek, to knock.” We continue knocking at the door of the kingdom-palace until our King, who is at the same time our Father God, and our Savior, opens and supplies whatever is needed.

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January 28 – Not Far Away

“God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.” Acts 17:27 (NIV)

When the Apostle Paul visited Athens, the capital of Greece, he went to a place called Mars Hill which was close to the Acropolis and where the court of the Areopagus* met. This was a gathering place for those who sought discussion on new ideas. Our verse today comes from the recorded words that Paul said to those gathered there.  After telling the people that God, the creator of all, had caused them to settle in different parts of the world, he made this statement in today's verse.  God knows where each one of His creatures is He knows where you and I each are. And His great desire is that we reach out for Him and find Him. Our verse reminds us that no matter where we are on this earth God has promised that He is not from from us. That means that we do not have to reach out far to find Him. We only need to be in earnest and to be honest in reaching out for Him. He is there for each of us no matter where we might be on this earth. 

*Areopagus  

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August 14 – Whole Hearted Commitment

“Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!” – Psalm 119:2-3 (ESV)

Psalm 119* is longest of the psalms and chapters in the Bible. Like Psalm 1 and 19 it exults God’s Word. We cannot be certain who the psalmist is since he is not identified. Each verse contains the author’s reverence and love for the Word of God (using eight different terms**), we take each of the statements as an affirmation of the promises God has given us regarding the effectiveness of His Word. We find again the use of the word “heart” which  refers to our intellect, volition, and emotion. When we say we are seeking God with “all my heart” what we are affirming is that we have a complete commitment to God and to His Word. We don’t use it occasionally or when our circumstances are desperate and we are driven to seek God’s will in His Word. We don’t use it conveniently or only when we think about it. Our promise is that as we keep our commitment to what God has instructed us in His Word, it will keep us from doing wrong. It will keep us on the path He has made straight before us.  

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*This is an acrostic psalm composed of 22 sections, each containing 8 lines. All 8 lines of the first section start with the first letter of the Hebrew (language). alphabet; thus the psalm continues until all 22 letters have been used in order.

** Every verse includes a reference to one of these terms referring to Scripture. The terms occurring throughout the psalm are: 1) law, 2) testimonies, 3) precepts, 4) statutes, 5) commandments, 6) judgments, 7) word, and 8) ordinances. 

Other acrostic psalms are Psalms 9, 10, 25, 34, 37, 111, 112, 145.

August 03 – Seek Now

“Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.” – Isaiah 55:6 (NASB)

Our promise today is one that brings thankfulness to our hearts and without fail, we can trust the promise. But, more than a promise, it is an invitation from our Lord God. God is near and being near means he is ‘findable.’ This appeal is for all people, believers, but especially those who have not yet chosen to believe in the only God, our Savior Jesus Christ. What can we believe when we seek the Lord? We can believe that we will receive mercy and pardon. From the beginning of time the Lord has required the same thing for salvation and that is that we trust in Him. Salvation by grace and mercy has always been available to the all who are willing to seek the Lord and call on Him. There is a warning, God can be found only while He is near, which means while His offer is still available. There are also promises of a time of His judgment when it will be too late to receive the mercy and pardon God offers it to us now. Be thankful today if you in faith have believed in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

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November 5 – Seek to Have

“If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will discern the fear of the LORD And discover the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:4-5  (NASB)

Yesterday’s promise from God was what comes from fearing the LORD God – a start at knowledge and wisdom.  Today’s verse tells us the promise for those who seek wisdom as if it is a precious metal. But the verses before, (Proverbs 2:1-3) give us more on how we can understand the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God.  There are six actions that proceed seeking knowledge as if it is as precious as silver.  Receive the Word of God; Treasure up God’s commandments; Open our ears to what wisdom is saying; Have a heart to receive understanding; Call out for discernment and Speak out for understanding. Effort must be expended for one to become wise. Getting wisdom involves openness, retention, hearing with the ear, applying with the heart, requesting, and diligent searching. This is the pathway to possessing understanding and finding the knowledge of God. A person who strives for wisdom will find that wisdom will enter their heart. Gaining wisdom requires diligence on our part in pursuing God’s will; yet wisdom is a gift, a promise from God. Possession of such knowledge from God results in inner joy and Godly pleasure.

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September 29 – Seek First Instead – How Not To Worry Part 6

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:33-34 (ESV)

In our passage Jesus provides and alternative to worry and it really is not and optional alternative. If we certainly desire to be rid of worry and anxiety, we need to replace it with God’s way of righteousness. This is the Way of living Jesus taught throughout his time on Earth. As Jesus promises, he supply these needs and we will more clearly see that promise fulfilled if we choose through obedience to set our sights on the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. We know what that means, right? The Kingdom way is found in God’s inspired Scriptures. God will never let us go without supplying our needs but the pleasure, joy, and satisfaction of His provision is best seen without worry and with focus on the righteousness God calls us to. Being anxious about the future means we are borrowing pain and trouble from tomorrow. Trust in God for what we need today and when today is yesterday and tomorrow is today, we trust again in God for what we need. We have enough ‘cares’ from today to cast onto the Lord who cares about us. We’ll cast tomorrow’s cares on Him tomorrow. 

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September 13 – Constantly Seeking

“O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water.” Psalm 63:1 (NASB)

Today, maybe you can relate to the words of David in Psalm 63.  We sometimes find ourselves in a spiritually dry and thirsty place. All we want and all we yearn for is something to quench our thirst. But we are in a place where there is no water.  David was in the desert of Judah and was also physically thirsty and relates it to his spiritual thirst. He knew to whom to turn when he was in this state of mind. God had provided refreshment in the past and David knew that he would again. That is why he declares God as his God and earnestly wanted more of God in his life. His desire was like a strong thirst.  This is our promise too.  We can believe this if we will. We can know that God has promised to provide whatever we need when we call on Him. Ask our Father in the name of His Son, our Lord and Savior, and He will give it to us. We recall how we have seen and experienced God’s provision for us and how he loves us and takes pleasure in giving us what we need when we call. 

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June 25 – Ask, Receive

“And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you;”  -Luke 11:9  (ESV)

There is more to this verse and if we are familiar with it, we know that Jesus also said, “seek, and find; knock, and it will open.”  The promise we have today is this one.  Jesus calls us to ask and promises it will be given to you.  Jesus knows that asking is the biggest hump we must get over.  There is nothing more difficult asking.  We will long, and desire, and crave, and suffer, and end up asking only when we reach the extreme limit. If we were to study in depth this lesson, we would find that the asking is not for material or temporal things that break, burn, are stolen, rot and rust away.  It is asking for eternal things. The first asking is for the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit of God, we receive nothing. We receive only after we come into a relationship as a child of God.  Then, when we ask for wisdom, we receive wisdom.  Then, when we ask it is because we recognize that our need of anything worth anything comes from God.  We must ask Him.  He promises that we will receive when in faith, we ask believing His promises. 

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May 16 – Since, Therefore Do

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”  - Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV)

It is good to know that the “If” in verse 3:1 actually means “Since” and the recipients of this letter are those in Christ because they have been raised with Christ. This letter written by the Apostle Paul to the assembly of believers in Colossae was written in prison, like the letter to the Philippians. But it has a very different message for us.  An important purpose Paul has in writing this letter, among others, was to refute the false teaching that was threatening this congregation of Christ followers. Also Paul was setting forth the absolute supremacy and sole sufficiency of Jesus Christ.  To encourage the members of the Colossae church to turn away from the false teachers in their midst.  Paul reminds them of their union with Christ. He also urged them to continue living in keeping with their position in Christ.  It is the promise in this verse that should motivate them and us to seek the better things where Christ is – in heaven at God the Father’s right hand.  Those better things are promised to all who believe the Gospel.  

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April 8 – Wait and Seek, Seek and Wait

“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently For the salvation of the Lord.” Lamentations 3:25-26 (NASB)

The command to seek the Lord and the command to wait on the Lord have the same general meaning, and the same general promises are given to each in scripture. Waiting and seeking for our Lord God are terms that frequently describe earnest and effectual prayer.  Waiting and seeking are also ways we are to worship our God.  In our verse today waiting and seeking are used in a combination that suggests a certain difference between them as well as a devotion as a result of coupling these actions.  There is an eagerness and earnestness in our daily walk and communion with God expressed here.  We are enjoined to actively seek God while at the same time passively wait for His answer and action. This is the promise we are given today – The Lord is good to us who wait and seek.  It is good that we make our seeking and waiting silently not just an act of communion but that it becomes habit of our lives as we work out our salvation to His glory. (Philippians 2:12-13)

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March 11 – No Lack of Good Things

“Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!  The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.”  Psalms 34:9-10 (ESV)

Just yesterday we considered the words of God which tell us to “Fear Not.”  A few verses later in the same psalm we have this encouragement.  We are to “Fear The Lord,” which is to have awesome respect and love. It is a promise that if we do, we will not come up short on what we need.  Even in nature, for example, young cub lions might get hungry if their mother does not bring back food from her hunt.  But in our faith life and in our physical life, seeking the Lord, which is our way of demonstrating our humble attitude which recognizes God as Lord of all, we will not lack the good things we need.  This is both physical and spiritual things.  God promises to us that the way to be full of Him and always be satisfied with the life He has given to us is to trust and understand the awesomeness of our Almighty God.  He is Lord of all creation and Lord of our lives.  He cares and He wants us to honor Him as He is worthy.  Good things we will not lack if we are truly in awe of our God. 

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March 8 – Wholehearted Seeking

“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”  Jeremiah 29:12-13  (ESV)

We are promised in this proclamation from God, through Jeremiah, that when we seek God we will find God.  Does it seem sometimes that when we are looking for God’s help or an answer to a perplexing circumstance, getting a response is difficult?  What is our attitude when we call on God?  What is our expectations when we seek Him for help?  Is it to hear and obey what God has to say to us?  Or, is it to preserve our way of life and escape the trials and testing we facing?  In this passage just prior to this verse, God is telling Israel that after seventy years in Babylon He will visit His people and He will fulfill His promise to bring them back to Jerusalem.  There is much that will happen first because they are yet in wholehearted rebellion against the message Jeremiah has been bringing to them.  When we receive a message from God through His Word the Bible or through teaching or preaching of His Word, our response needs to be a wholehearted desire to seek God.  That is when God promises to hear and listen to our cry. 

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February 10 – Worried About Welfare of Loved Ones

“For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened…If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”  -  Matthew 7:8, 11 (ESV)

Our verse and promise today comes from the Sermon on the Mount as it is commonly called.  It could be the first major recorded discourse Jesus gave about living in the Kingdom of Heaven.  Facing needs in our lives is to be expected. Our resources run out and need replenishing. This is true whether physical, spiritual or material resources.  The promise in verse 8 give us encouragement to know that God provides for those who ask, seek, and knock for resources.  Even in extreme cases as Jesus expounds on these promises with examples from every day life.  How do we treat our neighbor, our son or daughter when they are in need?  We follow God’s example and we give those in need, especially those we love and are related to, an abundant supply of what they ask for.  So, certainly God will do that for us. We know that because we who have shortcomings in character, are selfish and greedy yet still provide for our own.  God who's love for us is infinite will most certainly do that as well and Jesus is who we have learned from on how He respond to our needs.

Next: Worrying about what serving will cost us.

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January 13 – What To Seek

“Sing to the Lord, all the earth; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.”  - 1 Chronicles 16:23-24 (NASB)

Our verse today comes from the song sung on the day King David brought the Ark of the Covenant of God into Jerusalem. The whole context is important because it provides an understanding of how God was honored and worshiped because of the “wonderful deeds which He has done,” (v.12).  It is an example for us to remember to praise the Lord with thankfulness for all he has done for us.  And it is also a reminder of God’s purpose in creation and salvation that He is to be glorified. Our promise today can be seen throughout the song (v. 8-36) as it affirms God’s good work that He has done. And, He promises to continue to do for us out of His lovingkindness which is forever.  We read this affirmation, “Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad.”  Let’s focus on that today, being glad because of the wonders and love bestowed upon us who “seek the Lord and His strength and seek His face continually.” (v. 11)

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November 5 – All Things Added – Six of Seven

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”  -  Matthew 6:33  (ESV)

In the words of Jesus Christ from the Sermon on the Mount, we as believers are instructed to not be anxious about what we have to eat, drink and wear.  These seemly mundane things are personal material needs and do cause some to be concerned (another word for anxiety or worry).  But Jesus say we are not to worry or be concerned.  We have looked so far at five of the seven promises in the larger passage of Matthew 6:25-34.  Today we look at the godly behavior which Jesus instructs us to live by.  Seek first God, his Kingdom and His Righteousness.  If we will give ourselves to His cause in the world, rather than fretting about our private material needs, He will make sure that we have all we need to do His will and give Him glory.  All the food and drink and clothing — and everything else — that you need to do His will and glorify him. 

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*Some of this content has been drawn from a series of articles from "Solid Joys" a daily devotional by John Piper.  Desiring God 

September 15 – Impossible Without Trust

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)

God has given many promises for the situations in our lives.  He has especially made promises about answering our prayers if we pray in faith. But do we really live as if we believe those promises?  What is faith really?  Our verse today tells us clearly what faith is.  Notice the three truths or facts that we have to believe when we come to God?  First we have to understand and accept that there is no way to please or approach God without faith.  A doubtful approach will not be successful.  We might doubt sometimes but we then trust and with faith in God the doubting is canceled.  Second, we must believe that He exists.  He is not “the man upstairs.”  He is God, and actually right here with us listen to our prayers.  He hears us.  Third, we must believe that He rewards those who approach Him in earnest.  So when we turn to God for help, let’s remember who He is, that He is there and is listening to our request.  Then remember that He promises to reward us with a response. He does reward the faithful, earnest seeker.

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