Seeking God

"But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul." -Deuteronomy 4.29

In the last several verses Moses has been reminding the people of when they received the Ten Commandments and with them God's standards. He instructs them to keep them, even though he will not be crossing over the Jordan with them. And as he gives these instructions he reminds them of what will happen if they disobey. God will allow them to be destroyed and scattered throughout the world. But even in that there is hope for Israel because of the covenant God has made with the nation.

In verse 29 Moses tells them that if they will seek God when they are spread across the world, few in number, that God will be found by them. Now this is not simply a prayer asking for God's help, this is deep and meaningful pursuit of God. They must search for God with all of their heart and all of their soul. They must desperately seek after God with humility, repentance, and their very being. That is not a search God remains hidden from.

This instruction appears later in Jeremiah 29.13, when the people are in exile for their disobedience. And it is important to note how intense this pursuit of God must be. Think about how God has pursued man up to this point in scripture. He has created them, called them into three covenants, instituted a sacrificial system to save them from sin, and made His presence available through the Tabernacle. Fast forward to the present day and you can add the death and resurrection of Jesus, the sending of the Holy Spirit, and the written Word of God contained in the Bible.

Men, do you seek God? Are you searching for Him intensely and passionately? Would you call it searching with all your heart and soul?

If you're in a relationship, married or dating, think of the way you pursued your spouse/girlfriend. When I first started dating my wife I would call and text her to let her know I was thinking of her. I'd send flowers and write notes. And then we got married and gradually those things became few and far between. I hate that, and I'm trying to be better and much more intentional about continuing to pursue her. Often though that's what happens, we get the girl so we stop trying. The same can be said of God. We search for Him, find Him, and then we stop the pursuit. This is not the way it should be. The pursuit must continue.

God has greatly pursued man, and so man's pursuit of God must be just as great. Because of all that God has done, He will not settle for a half hearted, casual seeking. If we would seek God we must search for Him with all of our heart and soul. We must pursue Him daily.

Let us seek God as intensely and passionately as He has pursued us. May we never stop.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor