Thursday, May 23, 2024

            Some synonyms for the word seek include to pursue, to look for, to hunt for, to strive for and to go after something.  Seek is a good biblical word. Some form of this word is used close to 200 times in the Bible.  We can use the word “seek” to describe our walk with the Lord.  We want time and fellowship with Him each day.  We want to live in a consistent and constant awareness of His presence with us.  Psalm 27 is a chapter in the Bible that speaks about seeking the Lord.  This Psalm, written by David, has words that can bless us even today.  You may remember that David was called a man after God’s own heart.  Simply put, he loved the things that God loved and cherished what God cherished.  And from David’s line, Jesus would descend and be born into the world as our Savior.
            Psalm 27:7-9, we read, “Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me.  My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’ Your face, Lord, I will seek. Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior.”  Seeking the Lord can be something that we do daily.  There are no time limits or restrictions on how often we can seek the Lord.  Seeking Him does not come with an expiration date.  We can seek the Lord now!  Today is the day that the Lord has made.  We can rejoice and be glad in it.  We often seek the Lord in proportion to how much we love Him or how badly we need Him.  To seek Him out of love is the optimum standard or reason for seeking Him.  Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30).  We usually seek those people or things that we love or that have captured our mind or heart.  Often, we seek God when we are in distress or trouble.  But if we only seek God in unsettled times, we can easily seek Him more for what He can give to us than for who He is (our maker, Savior and Lord).  And to seek Him only when we are in a bind can lead us to ignoring Him altogether when times are good and life is much easier. 
            Theologians have often said that there is within each of us a God-shaped void or emptiness that can be filled in only by the Lord Himself.  To attempt to fill that emptiness with earthly or human things is an exercise in idolatry and will leave us increasingly empty and frustrated too.  Idols appeal to legitimate needs, desires and wants but they attempt to meet these same demands with unrighteous or even ungodly ways.  We seek the Lord today as we read His Word, pray, spend time in solitude and silence and even worshipping with other believers.  When we seek the Lord, we surrender to Him and allow His ways to fill the emptiness, the longings and the crevices in life.  God can be found by those who seek Him.  Jeremiah gave us this promise to remember, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).  Psalm 27:14 ends with this encouragement, “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”   
            Seeking the Lord today is not a feeble effort.  It is not a half-hearted attempt while our attention is drawn into a hundred other places. It can take boldness and courage on our part to seek Him.  The world is dominated by busyness, noise and unparalleled connectedness.  Perhaps now much more than ever before.  Little happens anywhere any more when we are not immediately made aware of these things.  To seek the Lord requires us to be intentional and focused.  Like the first disciples who had to drop their nets to follow Jesus, we may have to drop, disconnect, unplug and pull away from so many other competing things.  As we make a move into the unofficial start of summer with the end of school and Memorial Day, take time to seek the Lord.  Schedule time with Him.  Put aside the objects and activities that easily distract you or divert your attention.  Be still and know that the LORD is God.  Have a great Thursday!