SEEK THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART (1 OF 2)
by Eddie Snipes
Scripture: 1 JOHN 2:15-17
This content is part of a series.
Seek the Lord with all your Heart (Part 1)
Eddie Snipes
Having a heart that seeks wholly after God is the one sure way for living and fulfilling the Christian life to its full potential; however, it is also a difficult endeavor. It is not difficult because it is complicated but because human nature gets in the way. By nature, we seek our own good and we seek our ways first. Even when we seek to do good our motivations are usually self-centered. We do good because it makes us feel good; we seek God because we see the benefit His goodness has in our lives. While it is true that we cannot separate the benefits God gives from the relationship we have with Him, the benefits should not be our sole motivation. We are human and it is not possible to be completely selfless; however, it is possible to seek God for the purpose of knowing Him and not merely seeking the rewards in His hand. God told Abraham, “I am your exceedingly great reward”. Knowing Him is our greatest reward and nothing in this life can truly be enjoyed as it was intended outside of Christ.
When we know God and see how His goodness is revealed through everything in this life, only then are we able to truly appreciate the things of this life. When God’s purpose is removed, things take on an unbalanced value that creates a void in our life rather than a blessing. 1 John states it well:
1 John 2:15-17 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world -- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life -- is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
By nature, our affections are drawn to this world and if this world becomes our love, this is the evidence that we are not walking in the love of God. Is there anything you possess that would be devastating if you lost it today? When God ...
Eddie Snipes
Having a heart that seeks wholly after God is the one sure way for living and fulfilling the Christian life to its full potential; however, it is also a difficult endeavor. It is not difficult because it is complicated but because human nature gets in the way. By nature, we seek our own good and we seek our ways first. Even when we seek to do good our motivations are usually self-centered. We do good because it makes us feel good; we seek God because we see the benefit His goodness has in our lives. While it is true that we cannot separate the benefits God gives from the relationship we have with Him, the benefits should not be our sole motivation. We are human and it is not possible to be completely selfless; however, it is possible to seek God for the purpose of knowing Him and not merely seeking the rewards in His hand. God told Abraham, “I am your exceedingly great reward”. Knowing Him is our greatest reward and nothing in this life can truly be enjoyed as it was intended outside of Christ.
When we know God and see how His goodness is revealed through everything in this life, only then are we able to truly appreciate the things of this life. When God’s purpose is removed, things take on an unbalanced value that creates a void in our life rather than a blessing. 1 John states it well:
1 John 2:15-17 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world -- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life -- is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
By nature, our affections are drawn to this world and if this world becomes our love, this is the evidence that we are not walking in the love of God. Is there anything you possess that would be devastating if you lost it today? When God ...
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