SEEKING GOD
For whatever strange reason I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the phrase “seeking God.” It was something simple I could easily explain, but the more I now think abut what it REALLY means the more I realize there is a whole lot more to it than I had thought. Basically, “seek” refers to a desire to achieve, an attempt to attain. When it applies to God it speaks of seeking closeness, a connection, an intimacy with God. He should be the first and main Person and relationship we seek (Matthew 6:33).
Sometimes we may fear to fully connect with God because we aren’t sure what we will find and what it will cost us. We need to seek Him for Who and what He is, not because of what we want Him to do for us. When we seek Him out of selfish motives we are really just seeking our own comfort and ease, not God Himself. We want others to desire to come close to us because of a love for us, not simply so we will do something for them. God is the same. When we seek God just for what we want Him to do for us we won’t really find Him. He may provide the help we ask, but we won’t be connected to God Himself, and that is far better than just trying to use Him like magic Jeanie to meet our every desire and grant our every wish. Perceived need or temporary curiosity won’t meet our deepest inner needs (Deuteronomy 4:29). Only when we want and need Him because of Who and what He is will we ever have our inner need for love and significance met (1 Chronicles 22:19).
He is more than ready and willing to fill our deepest inner longings with Himself if only we would desire Him before and above everything else (Psalm 14:2). It doesn’t matter who we are, what we do or have done, where we live or what we think we have to offer Him. The only thing that matters is that we want a deeper, richer relationship with Him and to more fully know and relate to Him (Psalm 63:1; Hebrews 11:6). Is that the deepest desire of your heart?
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).
“But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 4:29).
“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1).
Do you set your mind’s attention and heart’s affection God? Do you do it for selfish reasons and gain, or out of a true desire to draw closer to Him?
by Rev. Dr. Jerry Schmoyer, Christian Training Organization