Today's scripture: Psalm 24:5-6
Oh, that we would be “the generation of those who seek Him …”
Yet it seems our society is seeking anything other than Him. Entertainment.
Drugs. Sex. Meaningless relationships. Money. Work.
And where has it landed us? In and out of one recession into another.
Sky-rocketing divorce rates. Families whose members don’t even know each other.
Our nation, which was founded on biblical principles, is anything but a “nation
under God.” And I wonder how long it will be before God completely removes His
hand of blessing on us. Perhaps He already has.
But we could experience a “blessing from God and righteousness from the God of
[our] salvation.” How? By turning back to Him.
God’s chosen people turned away from Him again and again (see the book of Judges),
yet when they turned back to Him, He welcomed them with open arms. I believe
He’ll do the same for us.
God spoke these words to the people of Israel … and I believe He speaks the
same words to us today: "… if My people
who are called by My name will
humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14). We are people called by His name. We just need to seek Him
and surrender everything we are to Him. Then He’ll bless us.
Today's scripture: Ephesians 4:20-24
When we committed our lives to Jesus, when we accepted His gift of salvation
through the shedding of His blood, His death, and His resurrection, we became
new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our sins were removed from us, as far as
the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12).
The Father saw us—and sees us—as clean and pure (Psalm 51:7).
But we live in a daily battle against the enemy of our souls. And even though
he knows he lost the war with us, as long as he can keep us distracted from
serving God and impacting others for God’s kingdom, he can win a battle or two.
So we must be on alert against his wiles and lies (1 Peter 5:8-9). We
must—daily—“lay aside the old self” and take up the cross of serving God. We
must—daily—“put on the new self” by renewing our minds, by surrendering
everything to God.
When you wake each morning, ask God to give you strength for that day.
Surrender anew yourself to Him. Seek His will. And commit to live that day to
glorify Him.
Today's
scripture: Psalm 27:6-10
It's a mystery.
The Almighty God, creator of the universe, wants to reveal Himself to me. To
flawed, sinful, rebellious me ...
Just astounding.
I don't believe in living in regret. Once I recommitted myself to the Lord and
asked for His forgiveness for my willfulness and sin, He forgave me. He
cleansed me completely. So, I can't wallow in guilt.
There are still times, however, when I look back at what I was, how I
purposefully turned my back on God, believing He didn't really love me. I think
about the choices I made, the paths I chose.
It's during those times when I humbly come to God in complete gratitude for His
love and grace ... and then I marvel that I can
come to Him. I can call out to Him. I can lift my voice in praise. I can trust
in His protection and provision.
All because He loves me enough to allow me to seek His face.
The face of Almighty God.
Today's
scripture: Psalm 40:13-15
I'm focusing on verse 13 today. Verses 14 and 15 deal with those who were
"seek[ing] to destroy [the psalmist's] life," which is something that
most of us don't experience. However, we have
cried out for deliverance. From pain. From trials. From failing relationships.
From financial difficulties.
We often need God's deliverance, and as The
Message paraphrases, His "intervention."
While I don't feel attacked by human enemies or those "who wish me
evil," I do know I'm in a battle. I know the enemy of my soul wants to
drag me down and doubt God's love for me. Chronic pain can do that. It can make
me want to give up. My health has fallen to a new "normal." This new plateau has brought a higher level of chronic fatigue and pain. More
than once, I have cried out.
I have echoed the New Living
Translation's interpretation, "Please, Lord, rescue me! Come quickly,
Lord, and help me." On those days when I feel alone, I may use words
closer to the Contemporary English
Version's, "Please show that you care and come to my rescue. Hurry and
help me!"
Although God doesn't remove the pain, He does remind me of His loving presence.
He does give me enough strength to accomplish what I need to ... if just for
that moment or that day. He does "show that [He] care[s] ..." He does
help me.
If you're feeling overwhelmed by life, then cry out to God. Cry for His rescue,
for His strength, for His help. He will hear you, and He will answer.
Today's scripture:
Psalm 24:5-6
Oh, that we would be “the generation of those who seek Him …”
Yet it seems our society is seeking anything other than Him. Entertainment.
Drugs. Sex. Meaningless relationships. Money. Work.
And where has it landed us? Out of one recession into another.
Sky-rocketing divorce rates. Families whose members don’t even know each other.
Our nation, which was founded on biblical principles, is anything but a “nation
under God.” And I wonder how long it will be before God completely removes His
hand of blessing on us. Perhaps He already has.
But we could experience a “blessing from God and righteousness from the God of
[our] salvation.” How? By turning back to Him.
God’s chosen people turned away from Him again and again (see the book of
Judges), yet when they turned back to Him, He welcomed them with open arms. I
believe He’ll do the same for us.
God spoke these words to the people of Israel … and I believe He speaks the
same words to us today: … if My people
who are called by My name will
humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land" (2
Chronicles. 7:14).
We are people called by His name. We just need to seek Him
and surrender everything we are to Him. Then He’ll bless us.
Today's scripture: John 11:55-57
Again, we see the two disparate views of Jesus, both during His earthly sojourn
and today. Some people were seeking Jesus; others wanted to seize Him.
Those who had seen His miracles and heard His message wanted to know Him more. They
wanted to learn more about Him. They wanted to follow Him.
Others had seen those same miracles—or at the very least had heard about them.
They'd also heard His message of love and peace. Yet they wanted to seize Him
and halt His message.
As Solomon wrote, "... there is nothing new under the sun"
(Ecclesiastes 1:9). People today still seek Jesus, either to follow Him or to
hinder His message.
So many have that God-shaped hole in their hearts, and they know something's
missing. They hear about changed lives and miracles. Friends and family members
share stories of what God has done in their lives. They see evidence of Jesus
in those who follow Him.
And they seek Him. They want to learn from Him. They want to follow Him.
Then there are those who have also heard about Jesus. They've also heard about
changed lives and have seen the evidence. But they don't like the Bible's
message of how a follower of Jesus should live. Or they see those who call
themselves Christians live hypocritical lives.
And so they seek to seize Jesus' message and obliterate it.
Interestingly, though, no matter whether someone seeks Jesus to follow Him or
to wipe out His message, Jesus can't be ignored. He won't be ignored.
And one day, every single person will find Jesus. Some will find Him and serve
Him forever. Others will find Him and recognize Him as God—yet because they
sought to halt His message, they'll spend eternity separated from Him forever.
Seek Him ... but seek Him rightly.
Today's scripture: John 7:32-36
Jesus told the Pharisees that He would be going somewhere—somewhere they would
not be able to go.
This was perplexing then ... and somewhat perplexing now. What did Jesus mean?
We now know He meant He'd be ascending to heaven for all eternity. So why
wouldn't the Pharisees be able to go there as well?
The Bible tells us that those who seek God with a sincere heart will find Him
(see Jeremiah 29:13). And those who choose to follow Him, accepting the gift of
salvation through belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, will
spend eternity with Him (see John 3:16).
So, if the Pharisees sought Him, why wouldn't they find Him? Because they
weren't seeking Him with hearts to know truth. They merely wanted to shut Him
up, to keep Him from teaching truth. And because they didn't want to really
know Him, they wouldn't one day be with Him in heaven.
We know that some of the Pharisees eventually sought Jesus with sincere hearts.
Nicodemus not only sought Jesus in secret in John 3, but he also publicly
aligned with his Savior after Jesus' death by helping to take His body to the
tomb (John 19:38-40). But sadly, most of them were so caught up in legalism to
recognize Jesus as their long-awaited Messiah.
What are the lessons? First, God will indeed reveal Himself to a seeking heart.
Have you sincerely sought His truth? If not, ask Him to open your heart to Him.
Second, we can be assured that we will
one day go to where Jesus is.
NOTE: When I started these devotionals, they were (and still are) an extension of my private time with the Lord. I love God's word, and I love helping others see the importance of daily time studying its truths. If you have been blessed by these weekday devotionals, would you consider sharing them with your friends and family? You can share them on Facebook or Google+, or just email the links. Thanks!
