Good morning and welcome in everyone. 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.
Since the beginning of time, people have been searching for things. When I was a young child I used to search for agates to tumble in my rock tumbler. On a hot day, people will go searching for a cold glass of water. When you are hungry you will go and look for some food. Some people will take a submersible and look deep on the ocean bed to discover new creatures, or they will make huge rockets to go hundreds of thousands of miles into outer space to search for things on the moon. Others will spend millions of dollars on telescopes to find a new planet, or a new solar system. Each day it seems that somebody is looking for something.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
Sadly, the thing that many of them need the most, is the one thing that they don’t go looking for at all.
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.”
To do something diligently is to show conscientiousness in one’s work or duties. It is to be richly engaged and doing something with a constant effort, marked by care and persistent effort. Diligent people are unwavering, continuing to do something even though it’s difficult or people want them to stop. God is a rewarder, which means He pays you back when you seek Him. When you go to work each day, your employer pays you for your time. When you spend your day picking rocks from a farmer’s field, he pays you for your time. When you cut your neighbor’s lawn, he pays you for your time. Likewise God will reward you when you actively seek Him, even with forgiveness.
Luke 5 ¹⁷ And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. ¹⁸ And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. ¹⁹ And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. ²⁰ And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. ²¹ And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? ²² But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? ²³ Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? ²⁴ But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. ²⁵ And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. ²⁶ And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.
A reward is something that is given in recognition of one’s effort or achievement. It is remuneration for your duty, something that is given in exchange for good behavior or good work. God will certainly reward those who seek Him. Nothing is impossible with God and He’s quite capable of answering the prayers of those who seek Him.
Matthew 7:7-8 ⁷ Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: ⁸ For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
God will reward active seekers
1 Kings 3:5 “In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.”
John 14:13-14 ¹³ And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Each fall people tend to migrate up to northern Minnesota. They take a drive and seek the Fall colors in autumn. For some of them, the beautiful colors that God has created is more important than the one who created them. What is it that you seek? Let’s look at a group of passages that talk about seeking God.
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.”
Deuteronomy 4:29 “But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.”
Proverbs 8:17 “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.”
Jeremiah 29:12-13 ¹² Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. ¹³ And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
1 Chronicles 16:11 “Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.”
Lamentations 3:25 “The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.”
Isaiah 55:6 “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:”
Psalms 119:10 – With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Matthew 6:33 – But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you
Psalms 34:10 – The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
Psalms 63:1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
2 Chronicles 7:14 – If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
James 4:8 – Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Psalms 40:16 – Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.
Psalms 119:2 – Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole 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.
1 Chronicles 16:11 – Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.
Lamentations 3:25 – The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
God is a rewarder of those who diligently……
……. Seek 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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