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6th December 2024
FridayReflection
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'John Calahan'
'a retired pastor
of a non-denominational church'
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"Does Jeremiah 29:13 apply to us or only to Israel?"
God spoke the words to Israel through the prophet Jeremiah.
This is a wonderful promise that states if Israel would seek God, He will let them find Him.
This is a divine principle that also applies to everyone.
Throughout the Bible we can find statements that reveal God wants us to seek Him and search for Him.
If we will, He will let us find Him.
In the Old Testament there were a number of men who seriously wanted to know God and have a deeper relationship with Him.
In Exodus we find a man called Moses who seriously begged that God would reveal Himself.
Then Moses said to the LORD,
"Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favour in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favour in Your sight."
Here Moses begged that God would let Moses know Him more.
God responded by promising that Moses would be able to know God's ways so that he could understand Him and Psalm 103:7 reveals that God did that.
In Deuteronomy Moses promised the Israelites that if they seek and search for God, they could find Him.
Moses had learned that God will respond to those who seriously long to know God.
This is a wonderful promise, but it requires that we seek God with all our heart.
While King David was alive he told his son, Solomon, the following.
If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.
In the Psalms we find the same principle is repeated.
When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You, "Your face, O LORD, I shall seek."
O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly;
My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So far, we may have discovered that seeking the Lord includes finding Him and knowing Him deeper.
In the New Testament we discover that the apostle Paul, who was already a Christian, longed to know more about God.
Notice how strongly he longs to know Christ Jesus.
I reckon everything as complete loss for the sake of what is so much more valuable, the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.
For his sake I have thrown everything away; I consider it all as mere garbage, so that I may gain Christ
Philippians 3:8
This reveals that a growing Christian will want to know more about God.
Paul's statement is truly amazing since he wrote many of the books in the New Testament; still, he wants to know God more.
Do you want to please God?
Then seek Him.
Enoch was taken to heaven early because of his faith in God and because he sought God.
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Jeremiah 29:12-14 are wonderful verses.
God wants us to seek Him, to know Him, and to love Him.
Matthew 11:25 hints at the fact that God hides Himself from us.
Isaiah 45:15 also hints that God hides Himself.
Truly, You are a God who hides Himself, O God of Israel, Saviour!
Isaiah 45:15 (NASB)
Why?
Because He wants us to seek Him as a man seeks for gold.
God wants us to seek a relationship with Him.
Do you want one with Him?
><(((°>
This is an edited version.
The full article and Bible references are avaiable on request
'I Jean (John) Calahan'
am a retired pastor of a non-denominational church now devoting myself full-time to the on-line teaching ministry of NeverThirsty.org
We are committed to in-depth, verse-by-verse teaching of the Word of God and answering Bible questions so that every Christian can become spiritual fathers in the faith.
I (John) have the desire to help you become a Christian first, and then to grow in your faith. I am committed to love and sound doctrine.
Never THIRSTY
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