Have you ever been confused about what God wants from us? Sometimes, it might get a little confusing about the why, when, and how should we seek God. This first devotion in the Should We Seek God? series, looks at why we should look for God, Who says we won’t understand His ways.
Nuggets
- God doesn’t want us to remain in that sinful state, so He found a way to pay the price for our sins.
- When we genuinely seek God, we will find Him.
- We have to have faith to please God.
Not long ago, we looked at Isaiah 55: 8-9. That is the “your ways are not My ways” verses.
If God’s ways aren’t ours, that means we should give up trying to understand, right? No, God doesn’t want that.
Side note. Remember my terminology. Those who have never made a profession of faith are searching for God.
Those who already have made a profession but are growing in grace and knowledge are seeking Him. Sometimes, disciples have to seek Him when we have let sin enter our lives again.
I will use seek as a shorthand when I am in actuality referring to both.
God wants us to seek Him. Let’s back up a bit and look at Isaiah 55: 6-7 to see what He says about this.
Let's Put It into Context
We have to remember where Israel was at when Isaiah was prophesying to them. Now, most of the prophets went through this “who me” routine. It seems like he was on board from the outset.
Oh, Isaiah did do the “I’m not worthy” bit (Isa. 6: 5) — even though he was royalty. But he quickly got to the “send me” stage (Isa. 6: 8).
Where God was sending Isaiah was to minister to Israel through a really hard time. At the beginning of the book, Israel was tangling with Assyria. At the end of the book, it was Babylon. Neither war turned out to Israel’s advantage.
Isaiah’s message didn’t change much — repent. In order to do this, we have to seek God. Let’s look into that.
While He May Be Found?
“Seek the Lord while he may be found …” (Isa. 55: 6 RSV)
So, does this mean God is lost? Well, until we ABCD, He is lost to us. Romans 3: 23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (NIV).
The ABCDs of Salvation
A – admit our sins
B – believe His Son Jesus is our Redeemer
C – confess God as Sovereign Lord
D – demonstrate that commitment by making any changes needed in our lives to
live the way in which God has called us
If you have not become a believer in Christ, please read through the Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
When Adam and Eve rebelled, mankind’s relationship with God was destroyed. “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear” (Isa. 59: 2 NIV). The fellowship they had with God was discontinued.
Why Do We Seek God?
But God doesn’t want us to remain in that sinful state. Because of that, He found a way to pay the price for our sins.
To read devotions in the Foundations of Salvation series, click the appropriate button below.
No, God doesn’t want to leave us in our sad, sinful state. He wants us to search for Him. He initiates that by the Holy Spirit convicting us. But it is our choice to put our trust in Him.
Look what it doesn’t say. It doesn’t say we are looking to God for a big payday. We aren’t looking for happiness or an easy life. We aren’t looking for Him to make us immediately successful by the world’s definition.
It says we are looking for Him. We are seeking the Lord.
Oh, yes. God rewards us with fruits of the Spirit. “… love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control” (Gal. 5: 22-23 HCSB). He is going to bless us.
But hear this loud and clear.
- Fruits of the Spirit are rooted in the Spirit. If we don’t have the Spirit, we don’t have the fruits.
- The reward is the relationship with Him, not the full bank account, fancy car, or friends galore.
Yes, God does seek us. We can’t just show up at His doorstep and say, “I want to be saved today.” He has to convict us first.
But we have to accept the gift of salvation. We have to pray some version of the following prayer.
Loving Heavenly Father. I admit that I am a sinner. Up to now, I have followed the call of this world. I believe that You sent Your Son Jesus to live on this earth, die on the cross, and be raised to life again so that my spiritual death could be changed to everlasting life. I don’t understand how You did it all, but I don’t have to. I want a relationship with You. Fill me now with Your love and Your mercy. Equip me to live my life to be the person You would have me be. Help me find like-minded believers to learn more of You. Most of all, help me find You through Your Word and communication with You. Thank You, Lord, for saving me. Amen.
Are We Really Going to Find Him?
When we genuinely seek God, we will find Him. “God has done all this, so that we will look for him and reach out and find him. He isn’t far from any of us” (Ac. 17: 27 CEV).
“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” (Heb. 11: 6 ESV).
Ooo, baby. That is a rich verse. Let’s break it down.
- We have to have faith to please God.
- We’ve got to believe He exists, so He is there for us to seek.
- He will reward those who seek Him — no qualifications – but it may not be what we are expecting.
So, if God is near, what are we waiting for in seeking Him?
Making the Connections
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord” (Isa. 55: 8 RSV)
Okay, let’s backup a step. We are supposed to seek after a God we can’t understand? We have to seek a God whose ways we can’t follow?
Yes.
We can follow God’s ways — He has told us in His Word what He expects from us. We may not be perfect at it, but we can follow His laws and commandments.
But remember, God isn’t interested in a checklist religion. He is interested in a loving relationship.
God wants us to try to follow His laws and commandments. Some we won’t have any trouble with, but some, ooo, baby.
God wants us to be genuine in loving Him and wanting to do His will.
How Do We Apply This?
We need to put in the time. This means seeking God.
Searching for and Seeking God
Hearing His Word (Rom. 10: 17 NLT).
Reading His Word (Rev. 1: 3 ESV).
Praying to Him (Heb. 4: 16 ESV).
Studying His Word (Ac. 17: 11 NLT).
Meditating on His Word (Ps. 1: 1-2).
Memorizing His Word (Ps. 119: 11 NLT).
To read Has God Provided Everything We Need?, click the button below.
We need to seek God with the expectation we will find Him. No, we can’t expect to find Who we think He is. We have to go in looking for Him, not our preconceived notions.
We have to understand science isn’t the final authority. When Pythagorus thought the earth was round, it didn’t stay flat until he proved it was round. It was always round — even when no one believed it.
So, God isn’t a myth because science hasn’t proved His existence. God is real. He wants a relationship with us to prove that too us — individually.
Father. You are the great Sovereign God. We cannot understand all of Your ways and thoughts. However, You have made very clear what is expected of us. We are to give up what we think and know and believe in You. We have to have faith. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 11: 1 NASB). Help us to search for and seek You — and find You. Amen.
What do you think?
Leave me a comment below (about this or anything else) or head over to my Facebook group for some interactive discussion.
If you don’t understand something and would like further clarification, please contact me.
If you have not signed up for the email daily or weekly providing the link to the devotions and the newsletter, do so below.
If God has used this devotion to speak with you, consider sharing it on social media.
Pingback: When Should We Seek God? – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: How Should We Seek God? – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: What Happens When We Find God? – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: Design of the Temple – Seeking God with Elaine