Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
Our family has always enjoyed fishing. It can be a very inexpensive recreation, especially if you can find your own bait. Many times when the kids get ready and I load up the boat, they will go into the garden and start looking for worms. Sometimes they will search for a long period of time, but they really can’t seem to find any. Rather than giving up, they continue to search diligently by turning over large rocks and flipping over some old logs. Because of their energetic effort, they will eventually find a spot where the worms are plentiful, obtaining that which they were earnestly seeking after.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
It takes a steadfast heart to find something that you are looking for, whatever that may be. God wants to reward us for seeking Him out, but one must first put forth a diligent effort. Possessing a heart for God will fill you with a great desire to be close to Him.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
There are numerous things that can come in-between a close relationship with you and God, and it all depends on what your heart is focused on. One of the most deceitful sins in this world is the love of money. A lot of people can’t understand how John the Baptist was content living in the humble manner that he did, but his heart was completely focused on God, rather than the things of this world. After all, what does somebody really need to get by until tomorrow?
Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
We are called to love God and our neighbor, but love for money is to love an inanimate object. Instead of focusing your attention on God or others, it is directed towards something that has no soul. People can waste hours of their life, seeking after things that are completely irrelevant to Spiritual happiness. Instead of growing closer to God and investing their time in attaining spiritual riches, their time is used to further their own covetous desires. It is an unending cycle of suffering, which can drown a man in sorrows, ruining your relationship with God and others around you.
1 Timothy 6:8-10 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition…For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
The love of money is a cruel and merciless thing, possessing one’s heart and devouring the soul. Each day when people punch the clock, their minds are focused on their next paycheck. Instead of seeking God, they are more concerned about how much to put in their 401k. Instead of looking to God, they look to their savings accounts. Their hearts become redirected on temporal matters, rather than Spiritual things.
Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
As Jesus preached the Word, there were many people who made the attempt to follow Him but they only lasted for a certain period of time. Love for the things of this world became greater than their love for Christ. They were pulled away from maintaining a close loving relationship with the Lord because other worldly concerns became more important than Him, such as relatives, wives, or taking care of oxen.
1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
We must serve God with a perfect heart. When we seek Him, we will find Him.
1 Chronicles 28:9 – And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Psalms 9:10 – And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
The more simplified one’s life is, the more time that you have available to seek God. There are only so many hours each day, hours that need to be redeemed, and one needs to consider the time that you invest in your relationship with God. Remember that the Apostles quickly abandoned their jobs in order to be in a close daily relationship with the Lord. Whatever you seek after is what you are going to be filled up with, either the things of this world or the Spiritual treasures found in Christ.
Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Psalms 73:28 – But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
Psalms 105:3-4 – Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.
Proverbs 8:17 – I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
So be careful what you chase after in this world, because the more you get involved with Earthly concerns, the further it will distance your relationship with God. He must increase and we must decrease.
When we draw nigh unto Him, He will draw nigh unto us. He’s already met us halfway, and with a grateful heart, it’s time for each of us to do whatever needs to be done in our lives, in order to be……
…..Close to Him.
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 