Skip to main content

Seeking God

          This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” (Jeremiah 29:10-14)

 

Today’s passage contains the beloved verse “For I know the plans I have for you…” To read Scripture correctly, we need to do more than read a beloved verse. Put in context, God told Israel that the hard times they were facing was not the end. When their time in captivity was over, He would take them back to Israel and they would be in proper relation to Him. Part of the reason they would be in proper relation voluntarily is because they would learn how to be in proper relation to the king of Babylon involuntarily. The king of Babylon would expect and enforce obedience. They would also learn that God was far more loving than the king of Babylon. The Israelites were given this information as a reason to hope, and they knew how long they would have to wait: seventy years minus time already spent.

As we face life's difficulties wherever we live, we generally lament because there is no end in sight. We try to fix things ourselves, like Abraham and Sarah, and like the Israelites. We don’t want to wait 25 years, or 70 years. But what if our waiting even five years involves us in something God is doing that is beyond our wildest dreams?

God told the Israelites that when they went back to Israel, they would  have a hope and a future. They would seek Him and find Him when  they sought Him with all their hearts. What would happen if we started seeking Him now? Perhaps with 10% of our hearts? With 50? With 90? Do we even know what it means to seek Him?

When we’re talking about something physical, seeking is easy. You look around the room (or wherever it’s likely to be found.) Perhaps you look in cupboards or drawers, or under or behind furniture. But where do you look for God? Three ideas come to mind. The first is in the Bible. The second is in whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8) The third is wherever you find love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians5:22-23.)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more