Imagine an athlete, a young man who has been training for years to qualify for the Olympics as a runner. Every day he is up before dawn, preparing his body and mind for the competition that consumes his thoughts. He lives and breathes to run.
As the week of the Olympic trials finally draws near, how much time does he devote to thinking about other pursuits and interests? He doesn’t have time for them! They are distractions to his one goal—achieving his dream of qualifying for the Olympics. This intense, all-consuming passion for a single goal should characterize our love for God.
I know that all of us who are Christians have felt this way about the Lord at one time or another. It's natural. When we see Him we are overwhelmed by His grace, mercy, love and holiness! But the challenge for us, especially those of us in America, is to stay that way. In love and impassioned with Him and spending time in His presence.
It is this intense search for God that He desires and rewards. Thus, He states, “Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). It is halfhearted, casual interest in God that makes a person vulnerable to attractive worldly distractions. These distractions draw our hearts away from God, choke out His Word, and cause us to leave our first love. (See Mark 4:18–19 and Revelation 2:4.)
In speaking of his wholehearted search, David said, “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple” (Psalm 27:4). Paul also testified to this continual seeking after God when he stated, “… That I may know him [Jesus], and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings …” (Philippians 3:10).
I remember courting my wife. You can remember your true first love. Even while at work or school your mind is focused on your time together. It is the center of your day. It affects everything you do! The challenge becomes keeping your eye single. Especially after 5, 10, 20 or 40 years. To hold her special when she says no. To care for her and the things that concern her. But those that have learned how and then purposed in their heart to do it have reaped all of the wonderful rewards of deep long term relationships.
We discern the “face of the Lord” with our spirit. Seeking His face is seeking His favor. Just as we can sense from a person’s facial expressions whether or not we are bringing him pleasure or displeasure or receiving his approval or disapproval, through God’s Word we can seek His face and discern what brings Him pleasure and receives His approval.
IICor.3:12-18 says, "Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. The Holy Bible : King James Version.
David enjoyed fellowship with God as he communed with the Lord through His Word. He made this communion an active part of his life as he went to sleep, got up in the night watches, and awakened in the morning. (See Psalm 4:8, 5:1.) David's Word came as he communed with God in meditation, prayer and in song. The Word is Jesus Christ! While David was tending his father's sheep he wound think about God and His greatness and on breaks he would break out his instrument and sing and worship God. God loved it and called David "a man after my own heart"! And God would speak, counsel and direct David as any good friend would.
Love is not a static condition. It is a dynamic, active relationship. Living moment by moment in the presence of the Lord and seeking His face is one of the primary ways we love God. “… In thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).
King Uzziah discovered the rewards of seeking the Lord. “… As long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper” (II Chronicles 26:5). The wisest decisions we can make is the decision to love the Lord with all our hearts and continually seek after Him. Let’s demonstrate that love for God by communing with Him through His Word.
Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Is 40:28-31
Grace and Peace,
Ed
3 comments:
Great stuff!
Thanks, what you wrote really helped. I am studying Matthew Chapter 22 and reflecting on what does it means to "love God with your whole heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." Your examples brought me closer to understanding.
Bonjour
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