Seek and you will find. — Luke
11:9
When you
ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives” (James 4:3).
What motivates you when you ask? If you are asking to receive things from life
rather than from God, you are motivated by a desire for self-realization. Watch
out if this is the case. The more you realize yourself, the less will you seek
God.
“Seek and
you will find.” Have you ever sought God with your whole heart? Or do you
merely give a half-hearted cry in his direction in moments of doubt? Get to
work. Narrow your interests until they are centered on God. Seek, concentrate,
and you will find.
“Come,
all you who are thirsty, come to the waters” (Isaiah 55:1). Are you
thirsty, or are you so satisfied with your experience that you want nothing
more from God? Experience is a gateway, not a destination. Beware of building
your faith on experience. If you do, you run the risk of becoming so smug that
you wind up driving others away from God. You can never give other people what
you’ve found, but you can make them homesick for what you’ve got.
“Knock
and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7). The door is closed;
your heart is pounding. “Wash your hands, you sinners.” Knock a bit
louder; you notice that you are dirty. “Purify your hearts.” This is
even more personal; you are filled with sincerity now. “Grieve, mourn and
wail.” Have you ever gone before God full of grief about the state of your
inner life? Have you gone without an ounce of self pity remaining inside you,
only a heartbreaking amazement that you are what you are? “Humble
yourselves” (James 4:8–10). It is deeply humbling to knock at God’s door;
you knock with the crucified thief. “To the one who knocks, the door will be
opened” (Matthew 7:8).
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