"seek, and you will find..." (Luke11 ask :9).
Seek if you have not found. "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss..." (James 4:3). If you ask for things from life instead of from God, "you ask amiss"; that is, you ask out of desire for self-fulfillment. The more you fulfill yourself the less you will seek God. "...seek, and you will find...." Get to work- narrow your focus and interest to this one thing. Have you ever sought God with your whole heart, or have you simply given Him a feeble cry after some emotionally painful experience? "... seek, [focus,] and you will find...."
"Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters..." (Isaiah 55:1). Are you thirsty, or complacent and indifferent- so satisfied with your own experience that you want nothing more of God? Experience is a doorway, not a final goal. Beware of building your faith on experience, or your life will not ring true and will only sound the note of a critical spirit. Remember that you can never give another person what you have found, but you can cause him to have a desire for it.
"... Knock, and it will be opened to you" (Luke 11:9). "Draw near to God..." (James 4:8). Know- the door is closed, and your heartbeat races as you knock. "Cleanse your hands..." (4:8). Knock a bit louder- you begin to find that you are dirty. "... purify your hearts..." (4:8). It is becoming even more personal- you are desperate and serious now- you will do anything. "Lament..." (4:9). Have you ever lamented, expressing your sorrow before God for the condition of your inner life? There is no thread of self-pity left, only the heart-rending difficulty and amazement which comes from seeing what kind of person you really are. "Humble yourselves..." (4:10). It is a humbling experience to knock at God's door- you have to knock with the crucified thief. "... to him who knocks it will be opened" (Luke 11:10).
[from "My Utmost for His Highest" Oswald Chambers]
No comments:
Post a Comment