…seek, and you will find… —Luke 11:9
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 your 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 interests 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). Knock— the door is closed, and your
heartbeat races as you knock. “Cleanse your hands…” (James 4:8). Knock a bit
louder— you begin to find that you are dirty. “…purify your hearts…” (James 4:8).
It is becoming even more personal— you are desperate and serious now— you will
do anything. “Lament…” (James 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…” (James
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).
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