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As Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land, Moses urged them to remain faithful to God. If they forsook Him, they would be sent away from their homeland to suffer as captives in a foreign land. But even then, if they turned back to God, they would find Him again: “And the Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the Lord will drive you. And there you will serve gods of wood and stone, the work of human hands, that neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deut. 4:27–29). The people would find God, Moses said, only if they sought Him wholeheartedly. The way back “home” can always be found, but not by those who are halfhearted.
In the New Testament, we find these words: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hb. 11:6 NKJV). We must not only seek God, but we must seek Him diligently. Our desire for God must be fervent and our efforts to live for Him must be earnest. As Jesus Himself said, we must love God with all our heart and soul and mind (Mt. 22:37). God deserves nothing less than our entire devotion.
Most of us have room to grow in this matter, do we not? If we “seek” God at all, it is often quite casually and in a manner that fits comfortably and conveniently into our lifestyle. Rather than making the necessary sacrifices to fit ourselves into the scheme of God’s glory, we make our own plans and then try to fit God into our schemes. We bring God into the picture only when we think we need His help.
But God will not be found by such casual seeking as this. When the lukewarm and the lackadaisical go through the motions of “religion,” the result is always an insult to God (Mal. 1:10,11). If we are truly to have fellowship with God, our relationship to Him must be characterized by unselfishness, reverence, and diligence. Our God must truly be the most passionate of our loves (Rev. 2:4). This week, let’s meditate on that each day.
Monday: Hebrews 11:6
Key Idea: It is possible for us to please God, but we can do so only by faith.
Questions for Family Growth: Why is it important for us to understand that God can be pleased? What is “faith,” in the biblical sense of the word? How is the path of faith different from other paths by which people try to please God?
Wisdom for the Day: Proverbs 21:10.
Tuesday: Hebrews 11:6
Key Idea: To come to God, we must believe that He is.
Questions for Family Growth: What are some questions we could ask ourselves to help determine whether we really believe God is real? What does 2 Tim. 1:12 tell us about the way in which Paul “believed” in God? Was the object of Paul’s faith a “what” or a “whom”?
Wisdom for the Day: Proverbs 21:11.
Wednesday: Hebrews 11:6
Key Idea: To come to God, we must seek Him.
Questions for Family Growth: In plain, everyday language, what does it mean to “seek” God? What are some other words and expressions in the Bible that have a similar meaning? What did Jesus say about seeking in Mt. 7:7,8?
Wisdom for the Day: Proverbs 21:12.
Thursday: Hebrews 11:6
Key Idea: To come to God, we must believe that He rewards those who seek Him.
Questions for Family Growth: Is it selfish to think in terms of “rewards” from God? How might this become selfish if we’re not careful? Who are those whom God rewards? According to Rev. 22:1–5, what will be the best thing about heaven?
Wisdom for the Day: Proverbs 21:13.
Friday: Hebrews 11:6
Key Idea: To come to God, we must seek Him diligently.
Questions for Family Growth: What do texts like Psa. 42:1,2 tell about the kind of desire we should have for God? How can we help ourselves to desire God more deeply? How can we seek God more diligently?
Wisdom for the Day: Proverbs 21:14.
Gary Henry — WordPoints.com + AreYouaChristian.com
