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.
Many years ago, when I was still in high school, I was sitting in the rocking chair in our living room, reading the newspaper and having a taco roll. Suddenly someone came bursting in from outside, and quickly walked into the kitchen. I could hear them as they rummaged through the junk drawer and the kitchen cabinets. After a few minutes they moved into the bathroom, opening up closets and then went through the back bedrooms. I was convinced that they were looking for something, but I didn’t know what. When they finally got to the living room, I set down my newspaper and curiously watched as they diligently searched on top of the piano, the TV, and the roll top desk. When they finally sat down next to me, I asked them what they were searching for. They told me they were looking for their bifocals. I cracked a grin, and tried to hold back a laugh, because I knew exactly where they were. They were sitting right on top of their head!
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
Each day, people all over this world are searching for things. They look for items that they have misplaced, they look for new jobs, or they try to find a new place to live. But the most important thing to seek after are the things of God. Instead of looking in the cupboard for food each morning, we must first seek spiritual food. Instead of looking for something cold to drink, we must first seek living water. God will bless seeking hearts, because He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek 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.
Diligence is defined as a constant effort to accomplish something. It is to be persistent in doing anything. It is putting forth a steady and energetic effort in pursuit of a specific object, with a great desire of obtaining it. When you seek something diligently, you are striving after it, which means to devote serious effort or energy to attaining something. In order to find something, you will need to diligently search after it, and with a persistent heart, you will eventually find what you seek.
Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Many people seek after earthly treasures, but the greatest riches that you will ever find, is found in seeking after God. In order to find something, you obviously must go looking for it. If you want to find a tool in your garage you need to go search for it. If Andrew and I want to find pine cones for the state nursery, we need to go look in the woods. If people really want to understand the things of God, then they need to devote some time to Him. They must seek out God in prayer and through the teachings of Holy Scripture.
Proverbs 2:3-5 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
Many times in society, people are more concerned about temporal things such as making extra money or increasing their stature, but the most important thing to seek after are the things concerning our eternal salvation. God must be first in everything, and He will take care of the rest.
Psalms 37:4 “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
Luke 12:22-31 ²² And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. ²³ The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. ²⁴ Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? ²⁵ And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? ²⁶ If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? ²⁷ Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ²⁸ If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
²⁹ And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. ³⁰ For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. ³¹ But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Jesus Christ died on the cross so that each of us could have the opportunity to prepare ourselves for His coming kingdom. It requires focusing our minds on Spiritual things rather than the things of this world. The Lord Jesus needs to be our consuming passion, our great desire, and our eternal reward.
Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you……
When Andrew was very young, our family had a game that we would play. I would take the Bible, walk outside, and hide it somewhere on our property. The game would begin when I gave some scripture verses that hinted towards the location of the Bible. After 4 or 5 verses they would eventually narrow down its position, and find where it was. I did this so that he would understand what it means to seek God’s Word. You need to go look for it if you really want to find it. God rewards those who diligently seek Him. If you choose Him above all others, He will reward you 100 fold.
Matthew 19:29 “And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.”
People would walk many miles in order to find Jesus. They would paddle in boats, just to get to where he was. They would pack into houses, just to be near him. To find God, we too must seek Him with the same diligence. We must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. If you draw close to God, He will draw close to you. It may take some time to find what we are looking for, but if we seek diligently after God, if we continue to knock on his door, if we desire to be near Him with a pure heart, we will eventually find Him, just like,…..
……..The Missing Bifocals
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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