Seek and Ye Shall Find

People everywhere are looking for ways and means to make their lives better. They immerse themselves in their work, their hobbies, entertainment of every type, and even the worst kind of habits: drugs, alcohol, or other types of substance abuse.

Real Christian people don't have to turn to harmful habits, because Jesus Christ will satisfy our desires, if we seek Him for those things we need and desire. But, this satisfaction is always conditional.

The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted. Proverbs 10:24

Our Holy Bible tells us:

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:31-33

What is God telling us to do here? Seek for His will! That requires work, does it not?

A lot of folks I've met through the years, especially since I've been in the church, have said, "All you have to do is believe, Only believe, All things are possible, Only believe." Well, that's not entirely true or false. We certainly do have to have faith that God will provide. However, we must go further, even as James, the brother of Jesus wrote.

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. James 2:14-17

We have to do something to make our faith operative. For instance, to have good health, we have to eat right and engage in some amount of exercise. To have a good job, we must look for and attempt to obtain the job and after we get one, we must work diligently. The same applies to other opportunities; when we are given an opportunity, shouldn't we be careful to fulfill it? Our Holy Bible tells us:

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10

Did you know that God's promises of good things are only for His people? They only apply to those who seek and do His will. These promises are not for non-believers, because first of all, their faith is in vain if they don't have the first-fruits or works of repentance. However, if men and women will repent and, by faith, receive God's grace, they will also be recipients of God's promises. Praise God!

When we are in God's grace we must seek God always! Let's see what Jesus tells us:

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. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Matthew 7:7-11

And I say unto you, 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. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? Luke 11:9-13.

Notice that these passages give us instructions that are words of action: Ask, Seek, Knock. Those are action words. We have to do more than just believe that God will give us what we need. We have to do something, too. These scriptures are not just for salvation, they are also for our daily necessities of life.

CONCLUSION

After we have acquired salvation by grace through repentance and faith, and are seeking God for those things we need in this life (as well as those things we desire), if it is according to God's will, we will have those things we have made request for.

Beloved, if our heart condemn us not [no sin is present], then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. I John 3:21-22

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. I John 5:14-15

May the God of all the Earth, and Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, grant you all your needs and desires according to His will. Amen.

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Be Encouraged in the Lord

When we look around us and start to see various troubles and sorrows, we tend to dwell more on the negatives than on the things that bring positive thoughts.

In our society, we can certainly see the absolute deterioration of honesty and integrity, and the lack of the fear of God. But, if we are genuinely in the grace of God, we can find encouragement, by faith in His Holy Word that never changes.

The word "encourage" is only used eleven times in our Bible, but God does want us to encourage each other; not only in His Word, but also in the things of this world that are just and right.

Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD. II Chronicles 31:4.

King Hezekiah told the children of Israel to give the Levites, the priests of the Lord, their portion of food and offerings to encourage them. Why? So the Levites could take care of their priestly duties, without having to be concerned for their own food and upkeep. This allowed them to focus on their primary duty.

What encourages us? We get encouragement from a good job, a good work schedule, good health, a nice place to live, good fellowship, good family life, etc. Many people can encourage us: our spouses, our bosses, our parents, our friends. God uses these things and these people to encourage us; however, most of His encouragement comes from His messenger.

In Deuteronomy 1:38, God told Moses to encourage Joshua:

But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.

And again, in Deuteronomy 3:28:

But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.

God spoke to Joshua and gave him great encouragement. He does the same for us, speaking to us through His Word.

Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast. There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Joshua 1:1-8.

Also, see Deuteronomy 7:1-15, for encouraging words from the Lord to Moses.

Sometimes we may not get encouragement from others, when we need it. Then, we can encourage ourselves!

And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. I Samuel 30:6

How? In the Lord! We can always encourage ourselves, i.e., have greater faith, by doing the right things We can trust that the power that is above all powers in Heaven and earth will help us in everything we need.

Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. I John 3:21-22

Please note that this is conditional; we must keep His commandments in order for this promise to take effect.

If we are doing our best to serve God and to keep His commandments, he will meet all of our needs, and will encourage our hearts.

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19.

This does not only mean material needs, such as food and clothing; Paul said ALL your needs. This includes the need for companionship, the need for security, and the need for encouragement when things are looking bleak, as well as any other need you may have.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Matthew 6:33-34.

When we put serving God first in our life, He will take care of the rest. What things was He talking about? Any of the things that you need. And when our needs are met, we most certainly will be encouraged!