Please read the “EDL Update and Email Change” below today’s Devotional
————————————————————————
“O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for you.” Psalm 63:1 NIV
A man with time to spare never has enough to do what He would rather not.
My thoughts and comments today are about “seeking God.”
In life, your desires decide your direction. David wrote, “O God, You are my God; earnestly I seek You.” Psalm 63:1 NIV. Could he say honestly, “O God, You are my God,” yet be disinterested or unwilling to seek Him? Christians may profess He is their God, but not earnestly seek Him; such professions claim Him as their God, but He is not their goal. That disconnect can be caused by distraction more than disinterest.
Jesus said of some of the religious people, “These people . . honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.” Matthew 15:8 NKJV. If He truly is your God, respect Him as such. Set the direction of your life to seek and know God. There you find life in its fullness. See John 10:10 NIV.
Let’s get practical. Would you describe yourself as seeking God earnestly? If not, why not? If so, how so? Let’s be clear about this: you are not seeking God because He “is lost.” You and I are the ones who were lost, and like the Good Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to seek the one that was lost “. . until he finds it,” Jesus came seeking you, until you found Him! See Luke 15:4.
What do you do with a God like that? The only worthy response to such a Savior is to give your life to know and serve the One who loved you so, and sacrificed Himself for you. He did not grow weary nor discouraged in the pursuit of your soul. God’s love was unrelenting; His grace expansive. Seeking God earnestly is the proper response to the love as He has shown you. See Jude 3 NKJV.
Paul’s passion was, “That men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us: for in Him we live, and move, and have our being.” Acts 17:27-28 NIV. He is not far; He is near. He is not elusive; He is inclusive. He does not conceal Himself; He reveals Himself. Human history evidences God’s availability to all who call upon Him. The promise reserves no exceptions, has no expiration date; “Draw close to God, and He will draw close to you.” James 4:8 NLT.
Is it time you lack or inclination? Life is busy; spare time is scarce. That’s true for all of us. The Bible wisely says, “Walk circumspectly . . redeeming the time . .” Ephesians 5:15-16 NKJV. We all have the same number of minutes in an hour and the same number of hours in a day. You just don’t know how many days, months and years you have. Busy schedules are convenient for not doing what you would rather not do. A man with little time will find time to do what he chooses, whereas, a man with time to spare never has enough to do what He would rather not.
More honestly, people lack inclination. Jesus wept over a city and nation saying, “O Jerusalem . . how often I have longed to gather your children as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.” Matthew 27:37 NIV. They had Jesus invitation, but lacked inclination. Does Jesus weep over your neglect as He did theirs? You and I should weep at our neglect.
My prayer for you today is this: regard God as worth every effort His fellowship requires.
————————————————————————-
EDL Update and Email Change:
Thank you for being one of the circle of readers and partners of EveryDay Life Ministries. I prize the opportunity and trust that you give me each week to share practical applications from the wisdom of God’s Word. I view that privilege as a sacred trust. EveryDay Life is now also available on Facebook at, www.facebook.com/everydaylife.allenrandolph, providing another means for you to to easily share EDL with your friends on Facebook. We have been pleased with the number and response of new readers. In the first month, the English edition of EDL was reaching people hungry for God’s Word in 20 countries, while last year the Bulgarian edition reached 80 countries. There are current discussions with new friends in Poland and the Czech Republic to translate and provide EDL there as well. May it be true of us that, “The Word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.” Acts 13:49.
If you have recently tried to write me at a “Trinity Church.com” email address, the previous sending email address for EveryDay Life, please note that EveryDay Life now has a new email address – everydaylife@allenrandolph.com – where your communication can be received. Please update your contact information. My thanks to those who made us aware of the difficulty and my apology for any inconvenience to you these recent weeks. The problem has been corrected.
With appreciation, Allen Randolph