Seeking …

“Seek the LORD, All you humble of the earth Who have carried out His ordinances; Seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden In the day of the LORD’s anger.” Zephaniah 2:3

The USA remains in dire straits. Unquestionably we deserve tremendous judgment for the evils we’ve legalized, the immoralities we tolerate, and the utter lack of fear we have for God. Yes, these perspectives are primarily promoted by non-Christians, but we as the people of God still bear great responsibility. If we–if I–would have been more devoted in the past to sharing the Gospel and making disciples, maybe the USA would retain more of its godly heritage today.

The problems are enormous–wherever do we start?

On our knees …

Seek the LORD. We can never spend too much time seeking God’s face and His will. Yet our days are often filled with temporal concerns and even time-wasting activities. God is convicting me of whittling away time on Facebook. (There–that was hard to admit!) Nothing’s wrong in keeping up with friends and maintaining contacts. Social media can be a very effective tool for ministry and business. However, I’ve spent far too much time “checking updates” throughout the day. I’d be so much better off if I gathered up those minutes and devoted them to the the Lord.

In God’s Word …

Seek righteousness. Maybe we take for granted that we regularly do this as Christians. Or, since we’re clothed in Christ’s righteousness, perhaps we think the matter is completely covered. When is comes to our standing before God, Christ’s righteousness is most emphatically all-sufficient. But in reference to our state, we’re instructed to “pursue righteousness …” (II Timothy 2:22). This is active–a daily effort to do what’s right according to God’s standards set in the Bible. Of course, we can only accomplish this in the power of the Holy Spirit. This truth gets mighty personal when we consider small activities like what we say, what we read, where we go, etc. God is interested in all of these and He desires us to live righteously–not according to our flesh.

Following Christ’s example …

Seek humility. What a beautiful characteristic to aspire to. No one displayed it better than the Lord Jesus Christ. He emptied Himself and took on the form of a servant (see Philippians 2:7). Can you imagine? The God of the universe veiled His glory so we could behold His Father’s heart. The Creator became a creature–One who came to serve, not be served (see Matthew 20:28). Who are we to deserve such love? We don’t. “But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:4-5). Remembering the depths from where we come aids us in seeking humility. Realizing our Savior’s great love and mercy keeps our eyes on Him in the process.

Holy Father in heaven, please forgive me for not being a brighter light for You in this world. I confess my selfishness and lack of zeal for You. Please empower me by Your Spirit to pray more faithfully, study Your Word more eagerly, and follow Christ’s example more fully. In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.

“How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, Whose hope is in the LORD his God”         Psalm 146:5

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles /FreeDigitalPhotos.net

2 thoughts on “Seeking …

  1. Dear Emily, the same thoughts have been on my mind. Our light can shine the brightest when we aro clean vessels, right with God. I want my life to glorify God and touch the lives of family members and neighbors, in this dark culture that we are immersed in. 1 Peter 1:15-16 was in my quiet time – But as He who called you is holy; you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” God will bring revival about in His Church as we, one by one, seek righteousness. It is all for the glory of God. You are in our prayers. Sylvia (and David) De Jong

    1. Thank you for sharing, dear Sylvia. I was just praising the Lord this morning for the spiritual fruitfulness evident in your life and David’s life. You’re a bright spot in Ohio–to God be the glory!

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