C.S. Lewis says, "Heaven offers nothing that the mercenary soul can desire." I say the same is true with God here on earth. If you go after God with the sole purpose of gaining his blessing, my guess is he won't just give you what you want. Or maybe he will, but one thing is sure: if you're not seeking God, he's not just going to impose himself on you.I usually go after God seeking to resolve some issue I have or for help processing some information or generally just to feel better. He doesn't always buy off on that. In fact I don't know if he ever does. I think he wants me to seek him rather than just all the perks. After all, the greatest blessing is probably God's presence with us, a.k.a. Jesus. It's just that sometimes we'd rather have God's blessing than God.
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I think we all go for what's easier to recognize - I can much more tangibly receive a blessing from God, than His presence at times. I have to work much harder to feel Him, to see Him, at least, it involves slowing down and tuning in to a quiet current that is moving around me. That takes maturity and discipline - 2 things I wish I had more of.
ReplyDeleteYeah!
ReplyDeletere: seeking God
ReplyDeleteOne reason for seeking God is given in the sermon on the mount by the Lord:
Mat6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
what is "all these things"? The things we are told to -not- seek after, the things the gentiles -do- seek after:
Mat6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Mat6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Mat6:27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
Mat6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
Mat6:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Mat6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Mat6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
Mat6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
God, as our Father, earnestly expects his children to bring EVERY request for EVERY need to HIM so that he can fulfill it. Like little kids, we're to ask him for good gifts, and believe he will give them:
Mat7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Mat7:9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
Mat7:10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
Mat7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
We are to view God as not some far-off thing that we'll never know, but a Father we can rely on for the basic necessities of life, not someone we seek occasionally, but someone we abide in.
Good thoughts. It's true, God does give us everything we need, but it is him we are to seek - not just the stuff. Helpful references - thanks.
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