As a cleaner at our local motel/campground, I end up vacuuming a lot of floors. No matter how many times you go over a floor, you can always count on another bit of fluff you missed. Woops, there’s another . . . and another . . . and another!
While I worked on finishing the last of the vacuuming in my room today, I realized this is a lot like life.
We think we’ve got everything sussed, and have everything “under our belt”, so to speak. But then there’s always more disorderly bits, ones that can be very discouraging to deal with. “Is this job ever going to be done—it seems like an endless task!”
Even Paul struggled with keeping everything under control. “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” (Romans 7:19)
No, in this life, it isn’t ever going to be totally done. There are always going to be stray pieces of fluff that no matter how many times you go over them, they’ll still be giving you trouble. Keep picking the bits up, one at a time.
We are never going to have everything perfect. Don’t let that stop you from following the Lord with your whole heart. Actively seek His face today, even if it’s just for a few moments.
Oops, there’s another piece of red lint to take care of . . . .
I've seen many searching for answers far and wide But I know we're all searching for answers only you can provide 'cause you know just what we need before we even say a word
- lyrics from 'Good Good Father' by Housefires
It's funny, isn't it, how people the world over are searching for answers here, there and everywhere. They want meaning. They want purpose. They want something more in the their lives.
Sometimes they have tried God. They may have had preconceived ideas of what He is like, or they may have encountered obstacles or things that put roadblocks in their minds. But they leave Him and try elsewhere for answers. They haven't earnestly sought Him with every ounce of their soul and committed to finding Him. If their hearts are lukewarm, their experience of God may be lukewarm and so they leave again, frustrated.
Sometimes they haven't tried God. They know there's an emptiness inside them that they were designed to have filled. So they search for meaning, purpose, something... to fill the void inside. To find answers to their questions. They might try new age, astrology, buddism, humanism, atheism... whatever it is, it won't be satisfying and fulfilling.
Because nothing in life is satisfying and fulfilling. Each human born onto this earth was created with a God-shaped hole in their hearts that only God Himself can fill. God is the only one that can absolutely fulfill and satisfy. To answer all our questions, to provide meaning, richness and purpose in life.
It's only God who can do it. Only God. Nothing else.
Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad. Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his face continually. - 1 Chronicles 16:10b-11
Seeking God. It's an interesting topic. (And yes, one that I have a stackload of pertinent Bible verses on, lol!)
But before we really dive into it in any depth, here's a question for you, no matter who you are.
Are you seeking God?
(There you are. I put it in a nice big font so you couldn't avoid seeing it.)
Here's the official definition of the word 'seek'. Just because it's fascinating.
seek
siːk/
verb
attempt to find (something).
"they came here to seek shelter from biting winter winds"
synonyms:
search for, try to find, look for, look about/around/round for, cast about/around/round for, be on the lookout for, be after, hunt for, be in quest of, quest (after), be in pursuit of
"six bombers took off and flew southwards to seek the enemy"
attempt or desire to obtain or achieve (something).
"the new regime sought his extradition"
synonyms:
try to obtain, pursue, go after, strive for, go for, push towards, work towards, be intent on, aim at/for, have as a goal, have as an objective
ask for (something) from someone.
"he sought help from the police"
synonyms:
ask for, request, solicit, call on, invite, entreat, beg for, petition for,appeal for, apply for, put in for
"you may need to seek the advice of a specialist"
Some of my favourite synonyms are "hunt for, be in quest of, be in pursuit of, have as a goal, be intent on, strive for, pursue, beg for, petition for, try to find, and cast about for".
So, are you hunting for God? Are you in quest of him? Are you in pursuit of him, is he your goal, are you intent on him, do you strive for, pursue, beg for, petition for him? Are you trying to find him and casting about for him?
Because can I very respectfully say, dear friend, that if you answered no to any of those questions, then you should seriously review why not.
Seek the Lord, all who are humble, and follow his commands. Seek to do what is right and to live humbly. - Zephaniah 2:3
If you follow his commands, you are commanded to seek him.
Seeking God most definitely has it's advantages. And not only because we are commanded to seek him! He rewards us if we seek him.
[Uzziah] continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding through the vision of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God prospered him. - 2 Chronicles 26:5 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. - Matthew 6:33 "The Lord is my portion", says my soul, "Therefore I have hope in him." The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the person who seeks him. - Lamentations 3:24-25 .....he rewards those who earnestly seek him. - Hebrews 11:6b
He rewards those who earnestly seek him. Let's not be half-hearted about it!
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 (With all your heart. All of it. ) You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. - Jeremiah 29:13
Those two verses are mighty similar. I've found that if God says something twice, it's because he means it and really really wants to get his point across.
Friends, if we seek after God with all of our heart and all of our soul, he will be found by us.
The Lord is with you when you are with him. And if you seek him, he will let you find him. - 2 Chronicles 15:2
Go back and read that last verse again.
I think that makes it pretty clear, to be honest!
One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.
Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek.
