We are to desire God, to secure ourselves to Him. We are to desire His presence, to turn toward Him, and to remove anything that would stop us from being in His presence. That is what God means by seeking His face.
It is easy to pray a short prayer and go about your day. Often, it is much more difficult to pray from a place of seeking God and seeking His face. The latter takes time, it takes focus and it takes setting your own agenda aside and surrendering entirely to God alone; but when you do this, the reward is great. It will take putting God and His presence first -- before work, family, ministry, and anything else that may demand your attention.
Seeing the goodness of God -- here, in our life -- is the fruit of intimacy with God; it is part of the reward. Seek Him now. Seek His face and see His Goodness.
MEDITATION:
Luke 11:42 - "But woe unto you, Pharisees! for you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over justice and the love of God: these ought you to have done, and not to leave the other undone."
When Jesus said, "and not to leave the other undone," it is clear that He is not arguing against doing what is right. God's word stresses holiness in our actions. The Pharisee's error was that they believed their actions could produce a right relationship with God.
You must be born again. If you are born again then holiness is a by-product and not the way to a relationship with God. Presenting holiness in any way other than as a result of salvation is denying Jesus as our Savior and places the burden of salvation on us.
Improper emphasis on achieving holiness or salvation through one's own actions can separate us from a relationship with God. We must trust Jesus completely.
It is easy to pray a short prayer and go about your day. Often, it is much more difficult to pray from a place of seeking God and seeking His face. The latter takes time, it takes focus and it takes setting your own agenda aside and surrendering entirely to God alone; but when you do this, the reward is great. It will take putting God and His presence first -- before work, family, ministry, and anything else that may demand your attention.
Seeing the goodness of God -- here, in our life -- is the fruit of intimacy with God; it is part of the reward. Seek Him now. Seek His face and see His Goodness.
MEDITATION:
Luke 11:42 - "But woe unto you, Pharisees! for you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over justice and the love of God: these ought you to have done, and not to leave the other undone."
When Jesus said, "and not to leave the other undone," it is clear that He is not arguing against doing what is right. God's word stresses holiness in our actions. The Pharisee's error was that they believed their actions could produce a right relationship with God.
You must be born again. If you are born again then holiness is a by-product and not the way to a relationship with God. Presenting holiness in any way other than as a result of salvation is denying Jesus as our Savior and places the burden of salvation on us.
Improper emphasis on achieving holiness or salvation through one's own actions can separate us from a relationship with God. We must trust Jesus completely.
