Are You Seeking After These 3 Things?
What are you seeking after?
I mean, what if you were seeking a big house and God said – here – you can have your big house. Are you happy now?
What if you were seeking perfect children – and God said – here – you have perfect children. Are you happy now?
Or what if you were seeking comfort and God said – here – you can be totally comfortable. Are you happy now?
Would we really be happy with a life void of God’s presence?
How much does Jesus matter to you?
In John 1:38, Jesus asked his disciples, “What are you seeking?”
38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?”
If Jesus was sitting with you today and asked you that same question – what would be your answer?
Perhaps you long for a perfect family or to be an amazing mother, wife and homemaker or maybe it’s to be beautiful or wealthy or organized or an amazing cook. Maybe you are seeking to be successful, intelligent, well respected or well liked…or maybe it’s to be comfortable, to have fun, and have lots of friendships.
No matter what we are seeking – if we are seeking anything FIRST – before the Lord – we will not be happy in the long run because the question is not – what are you seeking but rather…
Who are you seeking?
You see when Jesus asked the disciples what they were seeking, they answered with who they were seeking. They were seeking to find the Messiah and so they began to follow Jesus on that day.
In 1 Chronicles 16, the ark of God had been restored to Jerusalem and so David led a huge celebration with a large meal, burnt offerings and loud instruments praising the Lord. Then he led Israel in worship.
David’s Song of Thanks
8 Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
9 Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!
10 Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
11 Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his presence continually!
David tells them to seek 3 things…
1.) Seek the Lord.
2.) Seek his strength.
3.) Seek his presence CONTINUALLY.
Back in Exodus 33, the Lord spoke to Moses and he told him he was about to lead them to the Promise Land. This land was going to be AMAZING! But Moses responded:
15 “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.
Moses said – if you are not there God – no matter how wonderful the Promised Land will be – I do not want to go there.
Would you be able to respond the way Moses did?
Do you value the presence of God more than anything else in life?
Or are you settling for less?
Well in the very next chapter – In 1 Chronicles 17, David comes up with a brilliant plan to build the Lord a house. Only David did not ask God if he wanted him to build him a house. This was David’s idea and he didn’t even ask God.
3 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, 4 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: It is not you who will build me a house to dwell in.
And so God tells Nathan to tell David…do not build me a house!
David failed to seek the Lord!
Aren’t we guilty of this at times. We love God so much we come up with our own plans of ways we want to serve God without actually seeking the Lord to see what he wants us to do?
And so, God responds:
10 Moreover, I declare to you that the Lord will build you a house. 11 When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever.
So David wanted to build God a house and God responded – no David, I want to build YOU a house!
Wow this is so beautiful! While David was dreaming up ways to bless the Lord – the Lord already had David in mind and had a plan to bless him.
Beware of getting ahead of God.
Though our intentions may be good – our plans may not be the Lord’s plan for us. He may have something so much better for us if we would just seek him first!
And take note, He wants to give us not only himself but his strength as well!
God is with you.
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.
2 Chronicles 16:9
God is supporting those whose hearts are seeking him. Our relationship with God is meant to be so much more than just a quick 15-minute quiet time.
When was the last time you sat quietly before the Lord in silence?
Our world is noisy. In order to listen and hear from God, we may need to change our location. Perhaps we need to go outside, go for a walk or shut the door to our bedroom and be alone. As we draw near to God, the invisible becomes visible.
Sometimes as we are silent before the Lord, he reveals things in our lives we need to deal with. Busyness tends to drown out the voice of God, but silence is a megaphone. When we take the time to be vulnerable before the Lord, he speaks.
As we listen and pray and read scripture, we commune with the God of the universe and we grow in intimacy with him. We experience the assurance that we are loved, and the reality of eternity comes alive.
There is no greater delight than knowing God and experiencing his presence!
And so it’s time. It’s time to seek these 3 things:
1. Seek the Lord.
2. Seek his strength.
3. Seek his presence.
If it has been weeks, months or even years since you have connected with God in a meaningful way – it’s time. Get alone with God today and enjoy his presence. He loves you so much!
Walk with the King,
Courtney
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