November 25, 2024

Active Not Passive

April 20, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Blessed (enjoying enviable happiness, spiritually prosperous—
with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation,
regardless of their outward conditions) are the makers and maintainers of peace,
for they shall be called the sons of God!
Matthew 5:9 AMP

Peace is so much more than a passive state.  It is not just the absence of fighting or the maintaining of the status quo.  Peace requires viewing the situation in light of the Gospel and actively setting out to promote and make peace.

According to Hebrews 12:14 we are to:
Work at living in peace with everyone,
and work at living a holy life,
for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.

In Classical Greek, a peacemaker was one who strove to bring about peace: an ambassador that pursued peace, putting faith to work doing good for all.  That is what we are called to be.  However, there is one stipulation:

“Before one can be a peacemaker, one must be entirely delivered from self, from self-interest, and self-concern.  The peacemaker does not look at things in terms of how they may affect self.”

– Chuck Smith

A peacemaker seeks the glory of God above all else, placing the well-being of others above his own.  It is the “less of me, more of Him” mentality in action.

God took the initiative to make peace with us by sending His Son to die in our place.  Jesus is the One True Peacemaker.  Shouldn’t our mission be to share the Gospel of peace with others?  The inward peace only God can give?  When we choose to actively pursue peace, God rewards us with the very same peace.

You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind
[both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You,
because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.
Isaiah 26:3

And we will be known as His children.

The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit,
[assuring us] that we are children of God.
Romans 8:16

Peace is the evidence that we are His.  We reflect our Father’s characteristics in acknowledgment of our adoption into His family.  The family resemblance can be seen in us.

*  ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~  *

Father God, thank You for the many blessing You bestow upon us.  We are honored to be called a child of God.  Help us deny our own interests to promote Your peace so that others may benefit.  Guide our steps as we yearn to become more like You.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen, so be it!

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Inward and Outward

April 14, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

We have now entered the season of Lent.  For many Christians, Lent is taken as a time of preparation for the celebration of Easter where God miraculously redeemed mankind by resurrecting His Son from the dead. It is also a time to consider what Jesus said and did; and how we should be living in light of His Words.  ✞ ♥

During this season, here on the Seeking Him devotional blog, we have chosen to focus our devotionals on Jesus’ instructions and admonition communicated in Matthew chapter 5—the Beatitudes.  Jesus said, “Blessed are…” and He went on to give instruction as to how to be “blessed.”  To be ‘blessed’ is to ‘be happy, or to be envied.’   Truly for the Christian, we ARE blessed—oh, how very blessed we are!  Those who observe our lives should clearly be able to tell that we ARE blessed—and that we KNOW it! ✞ ♥

Please consider Jesus’ instructions along with us.  We pray that our words will encourage you and spur you on to be prepare your hearts for the joyous celebration of His Resurrection!  ✞ ♥

Blessed (happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous—
possessing the happiness produced by the experience of God’s favor
and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace,
regardless of their outward conditions) are the pure in heart, for they shall see God!
Matthew 5:8 AMP

Easton’s Bible Dictionary defines the heart as the “…centre not only of spiritual activity, but of all the operations of human life.  The words, “heart” and “soul”, are often used interchangeably. The heart is the “home of the personal life”. The heart is also the “seat of the conscience” , all definitions we would agree with. Then, what is it to be pure in heart?

Most people would agree that to be pure in heart is to be cleansed, spotless.  But Chuck Smith presents the idea that one who is pure in heart mourns because of their sin and because their heart is divided.  A pure heart is one that is undivided; fleshly desires do not compete with Godly desires in the pure heart.  A pure heart embraces God and finds joy in Him.  None of which can be accomplished on our own.  A pure heart comes from God.  It is an attitude we desire.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10.

It is heart knowledge, not head knowledge…
and must be experienced inwardly before we can share it outwardly.

Proverbs 21:2
People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart.

Proverbs 4:23
Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.

Matthew 12:34
For out of the fullness (the overflow, the superabundance) of the heart the mouth speaks.

Matthew 15:18
But whatever comes out of the mouth comes from the heart,

Luke 6:45
…for out of the abundance (overflow) of the heart his mouth speaks.

Being pure in heart is WHO we are, shown in WHAT we do

The blessing of being pure in heart is the ability to see God.  Many people believe this speaks to the future when we will actually, physically, see God face-to-face. What a joy that will be!  But we can also see God now.

The promise of seeing God in the present is twofold as well. We are able to see God inwardly by experiencing greater intimacy and communion with Him. God will make Himself known to us through His Word and we will become more aware of Him and His companionship. We will see His hand over us, in our lives. And as we see Him more clearly inwardly, we will begin to recognize Him more outwardly.  We will see God in the ordinary and recognize His favor on a daily basis.

When You give it to them, they gather it up; You open Your hand and they are filled with good things.
Psalm 104:28

Purity of heart leads to the inward desire to “see” God. “Seeing” God enables us to recognize the outward daily blessings and favor of God upon us.  Are you gathering up the good things God has for you?

*  ~  ♥  ~   ✞   ~  ♥  ~  *

Heavenly Father, thank You so much for the blessing of being able to see You in our lives.  Increase our desire to be pure in heart so we can experience greater intimacy with You.  We recognize that being pure in heart is not something we can achieve on our own but comes through our faith by knowing You.  We lift up praise to You for the favor You rain down upon us each and every day.  In Your precious Son’s name.  Amen, so be it!

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Hunger and Thirst

April 1, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

We have now entered the season of Lent.  For many Christians, Lent is taken as a time of preparation for the celebration of Easter where God miraculously redeemed mankind by resurrecting His Son from the dead. It is also a time to consider what Jesus said and did; and how we should be living in light of His Words.  ✞ ♥

During this season, here on the Seeking Him devotional blog, we have chosen to focus our devotionals on Jesus’ instructions and admonition communicated in Matthew chapter 5—the Beatitudes.  Jesus said, “Blessed are…” and He went on to give instruction as to how to be “blessed.”  To be ‘blessed’ is to ‘be happy, or to be envied.’   Truly for the Christian, we ARE blessed—oh, how very blessed we are!  Those who observe our lives should clearly be able to tell that we ARE blessed—and that we KNOW it! ✞ ♥

Please consider Jesus’ instructions along with us.  We pray that our words will encourage you and spur you on to be prepare your hearts for the joyous celebration of His Resurrection!  ✞ ♥

Blessed (happy) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
(justice) for they will be filled (satisfied).
Matthew 5:6

Happy and blessed…yes, happy (blessed, fortunate, prosperous, to be envied)
are the people whose God is the Lord!
Psalm 144:15

I enjoy verse mapping. I find it helps me dig deeper to understand the meaning of a particular Scripture. So I versed mapped Matthew 5:6 and this is what I found.

The Scriptures above point the way to happiness.  Happiness hides when we seek it.   When pursued it cannot be found.  True happiness is only found when we chase after God wholeheartedly…passionately seeking Him.  Passion that is illustrated in Psalms 42:1-2:

As the hart pants and longs for the water brooks, so I pant and long for You, O God.
My inner self thirsts for God, for the living God.

This type of hunger and thirst is a longing so intense that it cannot be satisfied by just a bite or a sip.  It is a deep craving for more—wanting all of it instead of just a piece or a snack.

So what is it we are to seek so intently?  To be right with God…to be delivered from the bondage of sin…to be completely forgiven—past, present and future. We are seeking justification—to be pardoned of all our sins.  Easton’s Bible Dictionary states: “Justification declares that all the claims of the Law are satisfied in respect of the justified.  The Law is not relaxed or set aside, but is declared to be fulfilled in the strictest sense.”  A full and complete pardon.  The slate is wiped clean and we are given a fresh start.

So where does this righteousness, this justification, come from?  It is not of our own doing.  We cannot achieve righteousness on our own.

Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.
But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work,
but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.
Romans 4:3, 5

Only through faith can we be made righteous.  Then we are filled with God’s holiness and literally saturated with happiness.  We are filled with His love and satisfied by His grace.

The Scriptures tell us the righteous will prosper and receive blessing from the Lord.  Hosea 10:12 confirms this:  “Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love.”  Blessings abound when we seek His righteousness, causing us to seek Him even more.

  *  ~  ♥  ~   ✞   ~  ♥  ~  *

Lord, thank You for Your many blessings.  I am so grateful that You are easy to find when I seek You.  Thank You for satisfying my longings for You.  Deepen those longings so I continually seek Your righteousness, Your justice so I can be made complete in You.  Amen, so be it!

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The Importance of Being Meek

March 24, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

 

Today’s post is shared with us by Cynda Cottrill, our newest writer for the Seeking Him devotional blog!

We have now entered the season of Lent.  For many Christians, Lent is taken as a time of preparation for the celebration of Easter where God miraculously redeemed mankind by resurrecting His Son from the dead. It is also a time to consider what Jesus said and did; and how we should be living in light of His Words.  ✞ ♥

During this season, here on the Seeking Him devotional blog, we have chosen to focus our devotionals on Jesus’ instructions and admonition communicated in Matthew chapter 5—the Beatitudes.  Jesus said, “Blessed are…” and He went on to give instruction as to how to be “blessed.”  To be ‘blessed’ is to ‘be happy, or to be envied.’   Truly for the Christian, we ARE blessed—oh, how very blessed we are!  Those who observe our lives should clearly be able to tell that we ARE blessed—and that we KNOW it! ✞ ♥

Please consider Jesus’ instructions along with us.  We pray that our words will encourage you and spur you on to be prepare your hearts for the joyous celebration of His Resurrection!  ✞ ♥

Blessed are the meek (those who are humble) for they will inherit the earth.
Matthew 5:5

The word meek is often used interchangeably with the word humble.  Common definitions include “…gentle, tender, calm, not easily provoked, free from pride and not occupied with self.”  Vines Bible Dictionary defines meekness as “grace of the soul.”  I like that.  It speaks of the spirit within, the spirit with which we not only deal with the external (the circumstances of our life) but also the internal (how we accept God’s dealings with us).  Meekness is not just a characteristic or trait; it is an attitude, a way of life.  Being meek is not to be confused with, or seen as, weakness. It is more like self-control because we are aware of the infinite resources of God available to each of us in every situation.

So, why is it important to be meek?  There are many benefits.  As Matthew 5:5 says “the meek…will inherit the earth.”  This isn’t just about a place to be acquired or obtained.  It is God making His favor real in our lives.  Revelations 21:7 tells us “<they>…shall inherit all things.”  This inheritance is to receive the blessing of God as a gift.  It is our reward, our birthright, as children of the Most High King.  Doesn’t that just make your heart sing?

There are other benefits to meekness as well (found in the Scriptures below):

  • Psalm 25:9 “He guides the humble” (AMP) or “He leads the meek” (NASB)
  • Psalm 69:32 “The humble will see their God at work and be glad”
  • Psalm 147:6 God sustains, supports, lifts up the meek
  • Isaiah 29:19 “…the meek will increase their joy” (AMP) or “…the humble will be filled with fresh joy from The Lord” (NLT)

Great reasons to be meek! I would not want to miss out on any of these blessings. But the best reason for being meek is found in 1 Peter 3:4: “a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”  Meekness is very precious in the eyes of The Lord!

* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥~ *

Heavenly Father, thank You for the many blessings You bestow upon us and the many opportunities we have to be blessed.  Being meek is not always easy, it does not come naturally to most of us.  But meekness is of great value and importance to You.  Lord, we ask that You help us develop a quiet and gentle spirit and willingly accept and submit to You and Your ways.  For we want our lives to be precious and pleasing to You.  In the precious name of Jesus, I ask this.  Amen…so be it!

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