I know that there there have been times when I was looking and did not find and ended just giving up. What a difference that is over seeking something. Seeking is looking with earnest with intent on finding, as I note in the title of my writing here: with all your heart.

“¹³You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:13 (ESV)

Looking for something seems to happen on a regular basis in our lives. Whether that is a job, a mate, a car, a relationship, or really most anything. When we are looking, I see that we are simply having an eye out and if we come upon it, we declare that it has been found. But was it really “found” or did we just happen upon it?

There is a difference when we are seeking. I go to the book by Napoleon Hill – “Think and Grow Rich”. Here he discusses the idea of committing to the idea of getting to the desired outcome. Committing all of yourself to attainment. Seeking is in the same category. And seeking the Lord is of great importance. We must seek the Lord with all of ourselves and commit to finding Him.

Seeking is not for the weak. It takes strength of mind, body, and soul, and all of our heart to find the Lord. I have to make it a point to actively work to reach the Lord. I have to put my mind to the search. I have to commit my heart. And when I do, I will find Him, right where He has been all along. He is with me. He never left me.

I cannot expect that the Lord will just show up for me. Although He is here and will always be here, for me to find Him I have to search with earnest. As noted above, I will find Him when I “seek” with all my heart.

When you are working to find God, how are you searching for Him? Are you looking, hoping to simply run into Him? What if you were to commit to finding Him with all your heart?

“⁶Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;” – Isaiah 55:6 (ESV)

There are a couple things found in this verse that I see, and have been reminded. First, the LORD is available all the time, but His offer of salvation has an expiration date. There is going to come a time when salvation will no longer be available for us to attain (the rapture). When that time is come, the offer expires and eternal life is no longer possible, it is eternal death for all those that did not accept the gift of salvation. It is up to us when we accept, but we have to remember that the offer does expire, and only God knows that date and time.

Secondly, I see that God is near now. As I go through “life”, “life” gets in the way. I tend to turn to all that is going on as opposed to seeking out salvation and looking for eternal life. The further I drift away the more difficult it becomes to come back. I remember when I was a younger man, first married, Lori and I were attending church regularly until I found the game of golf. Work was consuming and when I did have some time away from work, I would play golf. That time was on Sundays. I would play every Sunday morning and during that time, going to church was not on the radar. I had drifted away. There was not really a desire to go back and it became easier and easier to stay away as the next round of golf was on its way the following week. “Life” was in the way, and I was not in the mind of overcoming “life” to come back to God. Thankfully, God sent Bryson and Aarron for Lori and I to care for. The LORD gave us another opportunity to come back to Him and we/I did.

I can see that God will give us every chance to find Him. We have seek Him out though and remember that the offer of salvation is an expiring one and that the further we drift down “life”, the more difficult it is to find Him. God gave me another chance to come back to me and thankfully I was able see it and act on it. I was open to finding Him again and was able to make it back to Him. We have to seek Him now or the offer may expire, or we may drift too far away and the path back could be too difficult to embark.

When you are out there in the world, what does your seeking of God look like? Are you seeking Him now, or are you waiting for the right time? What if you took the chance to seek Him now while He is near, not to mention avoid missing out on the expiring offer of salvation?

“¹²We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. ¹⁶From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.” – 2 Corinthians 5:12 & 16 (ESV)

I wrote about God looking inward and we should as well. Here in 2 Corinthians, Paul is stressing that point once again as Samuel did before. It is not for me to concern myself with the outward of myself or others. The LORD looks inward and I should as well.

When reading this morning, see and am reminded that Christ died and became a new creation as that which was known fell away. His outward appearance was inconsequential as He was now a new creation. I should concern myself with the same. Now that I am in Christ, I am a new creation and the old of me has fallen away.

“¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

I am to be here and focused on the inward parts of myself. I have to have a right heart with God. I have to do all things with His glory in mind. As such, my outward falls away and becomes inconsequential. It is important for me not to just concern myself with my inward parts, but look at others and be concerned for their inward parts and selves also. I should look to those inward parts and how they are there to glorify God. As such, the outward parts of them become inconsequential and fall away. I have to allow for the new creation of them to manifest for the glory of God.

When you think about yourself and others, what parts are you looking at? Are you concerning yourself with the outward and ignoring the inward parts? What if looked to the inward and how that is glorifying God and allowed for the outward parts to be inconsequential?

When I look out there in the world I admit that those taken to be influential are those that look the part. Those that are beautiful/handsome, tall, athletic, well dressed, as well as financially well off. We as a society look at them with wonder and frankly, envy.

“⁷But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.’” – 1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV)

I know and am reminded here that the LORD is not in the same sphere of vision as I am. Whereas I am looking immediately at the outward appearance of someone to determine their influence and “power”, God looks immediately at the heart.

Oh what a difference there would be in society if that were the norm. Think of the story lines out there and the characters in those story lines. The beast from “Beauty and the Beast”, Quasimodo, and Frankenstein’s Monster, Stuart the mouse from the movie, the other characters were not exactly flocking to them to follow their leadership. They were less than desirable in societal terms, but in the end, they proved to be bigger than life, thanks to their heart. It was the inward parts that made all the difference.

In my life, I have to remember to look at the heart of the individual as opposed to the outward appearance, either physical or immediately visual. I have to look to the motives and the actions of the person to determine their inner workings. I have to be cued into more than that which is on the outside.

I have to be careful not to reject the outward based on what I see, I just have to be more cued into what it is on the inside to determine the goodness of the individual. After all, even as David was small and young in stature, he was also described as having beautiful eyes and was handsome. It was however his inward self that God looked on when David was anointed.

When you look into society, what are you looking for in those that you consider influential? Are you searching for those that look the part? What if we were to look closer at the inward parts as the LORD does as opposed to the outward parts we do today?

“¹³For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” – Psalm 139:13 (ESV)

This is a simple verse that really gets to the bottom of it all. God created all of me. Not just what is seen on the outside and what is witnessed by others, but the inside, including my heart and soul. I have been set apart by God. I was known by Him before I was know by the world. God knows my every cell. God put me together and made me what and who I am. He had a purpose for me to even be created.

“¹⁶Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” – Psalm 139:16 (ESV)

God gave me things to do and had them written as a task list for me. He planned for me. He has a vision for me. He has a mission for me. It is my duty to follow the plan and complete the tasks for me. All of us have been created by God from the beginning. He has a plan for each of us. He has tasks for each of us. It is our duty to complete those tasks for Him.

God created ALL of us. From the top of our head to the bottom of our feet and everything, I mean everything, in between. I know that my heart was created by God. My spleen. My toenails. My nasal cavity. My mind. ALL of me was created by God and ALL was created for His glory and purpose.

When you look at yourself, how much of you do you believe was created by God? Are you even aware that you were? What it we looked at ourselves as completely created by God, ALL of us, even the inward parts?

“⁶Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.” – Psalm 51:6 (ESV)

I have seen and been witness to the appearances of integrity and truth. What I mean by the appearances is that I have seen someone talking a good game of things and then I witness just the opposite in their actions. It really speaks to the old saying of “do as I say and not as I do”. Well, that is not the path to real truth in the eyes of God.

Remembering that true integrity is what you do when no one is watching, brings to mind the inward being. It is important that I am seeking to be truthful with my whole self. Saying one thing and then doing another that is contrary, is not being truthful at all. When I am hypocritical in my words and actions, I might as well be untruthful from the start. I am only saying things to impress, when it is more impressive to take action.

How do I get to the inward truth, it starts with my true repentance from my sin. I should be looking for “a deeper purification of the moral life” (ESV Commentary). It is easy for me to simply say the words of repentance, and something entirely different to live repentance. That is something that I struggle with each and everyday. And that is a good thing. It is important that I know where I am doing well and where I am struggling. In order for the that deeper purification to occur, I have to understand that I will not get it exactly right each and every time. I will have inconsistencies and difficult times of getting it right.

It is however that inconsistency and knowing it is there that keeps me humble and striving to be better and more like Christ every day. It is that falling back that gives me the visibility into my more inner self to see the successes and failures that are there. It is that wisdom that comes in the inner self that gives me the ability to be better. It is up to me to seek the inward truth and develop and display it for all to see.

Where are you experiencing truth? Are you finding yourself saying one thing and then acting contrary to those declarations? What if we focused on seeking the inward truth and develop and display if for all to see?

We are all sinners and have the opportunity to experience the grace of God through the salvation He provides for us. I am forever grateful for that grace which generates my saving faith I am able to demonstrate to those around me.

“¹⁶If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.” – 1 John 5:16 (ESV)

So, what are sins that do not lead to death and those that do. Those that do not lead to death, as noted in the commentary found in my NIV bible for verse 16, are those where “(1) forgiveness is sought and (2) God is willing to grant it”. Those that lead to death are “(1) unrepented of and (2) of the kind or nature that john has warned about throughout the letter: resolute rejection of the true doctrine about Christ, chronic disobedience to God’s commandments, persistent lack of love for fellow believers—all indicators of a lack of saving faith”.

And there it is, the last part of that last sentence in the previous paragraph. It is about having the saving faith and working within that construct that leads to life with Christ. I have to remember the grace that God provided for me through salvation. And when I do, I will be more likely to live according to that grace and with the desire to obey and do the will of God in my life. When I am living according to the saving grace and thereby repenting of my sins, those that I commit knowingly (although minimal if living the life Christ has for me) as well as unknowingly, I will be given the gift of eternal life with Him. With my repentance, God will be willing to grant me forgiveness and thereby my eternal life with Him will be maintained.

I have to remember that my repentance must be real and not just lip service to be heard by those around me. My actions must be seen as a part of my repentance and not just said to “make me look good”. It is the sincerity that God is looking to in my repentance, and that is where His willingness to forgive is rooted. My salvation is based on my heart and not that of my head and words. God sees my heart and knows my true self. When I root my everything in His grace and have a saving faith, I will be led to life.

When you are out there, what sins are you committing, those that lead to death or not? Are you coming to God in full repentance of your sins? What if we relied on the grace of God through our saving faith to lead us to life?

The title to my writing this morning is one that when taken out of context can be misleading and give a false sense of power.

“¹⁷Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.” – Hebrews 13:17 (ESV)

I read this verse alone and without context and what I see is an opportunity for “leaders” to announce they should be followed for they have what is best in mind for all. This is a slippery slope in the world as I see those with ill intent taking advantage of those that are not informed. In reading the above verse, one has to also consider verse 7.

“⁷Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.” – Hebrews 13:7 (ESV)

Now that I have both of the verses together, it is clear to me that “leaders” are to be remembered and obeyed for their work and ideas that are in accordance with God and His glory. Those that are in the world telling us that we should listen to them and that they are all knowing and the authority should not be taken at their word. It is my responsibility to review their character and their way of life in accordance with God and His glory.

“Leaders” have a responsibility to those under them to inspire based on their character, not their words. I should look to those in authority and examine them against the example of Christ. Without this example, I have to be very careful in obeying them so as not to be led astray from God and His glory. I have to remember the character of the leaders and obey and submit to them when that character is in the example of Christ.

What are you looking for in leaders? Are you looking to them without consideration as to their character against the example of Christ? What if we were to remember them according to the example of Christ and when they measure up, obey and submit to them?

“¹Fist of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, ²for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” – 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (ESV)

With my prayer I should be lifting up all. I should be praying for the lowly and those in authority. I have to remember that God is God for all.

As I studied this morning in the commentary of my various versions of God’s Word, my New International Version (NIV) commentary for verse 2 above reminded me that prayer for those in authority is easy to remember in those difficult oppressive times and more alluding in times of prosperity and peace. I know that for me, I find that I am not as in tune with lifting up those in authoritative positions except when I concerned.

Paul reminds us that we are to be praying for all at all times. Regardless of the day or situation, we should be lifting everyone up to the Father. When I look at verse 2 above I see the last part as the reason why, “that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way”. This lets me know that for me to get the most out of my time here in this world and do the work of Christ most efficiently and effectively, I need every advantage. I need to remember that even in peaceful times, I should be praying that those in authority continue to work according to God and in the interest of His glory and not their own. I have to lift them up in the good as well as difficult times. In the philosophy of leadership principles I have to “catch them doing something right” as opposed to only looking for the places where they can improve or do things “my way”.

For me to lead a peaceful, godly life I need to be aware and focused on praying for all. Not just those that are in my circle of influence, but all that are in my circle of concern as well as those not. I have to remember that those in authority are God’s children just as I am and need appreciation and lifting up also. When I pray for all, I am praying for “a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way”.

When you pray, what are the situations where you are praying for all, even those in authority? Are you only praying for those in authority only in times of need? What if we just prayed for all at all times, what difference would that make in our “peaceful and quiet, godly and dignified” lives?

It is not the temptation or adversity that defines me, it is how I recover from it. I teach this as a part of my mission to improve lives through growth and learning. It is inevitable that we will be tempted in life and will have to overcome that temptation to get through the difficult situations that we will encounter.

“¹³And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” – Matthew 6:13 (ESV)

In order for us to grow and learn, it is important that we experience temptation and adversity. We learn and overcome to be stronger on the other side. But, do we ask not to be tempted, do we ask not to experience adversity. I find that we are reactive to what comes at us as opposed to proactive to avoid things.

I have to make sure and ask to be delivered from temptation and adversity so as not to have to experience them. I want to live a life that is comfortable and filled with opportunity to give God the glory He should be receiving. When I am focusing my attention on overcoming temptation and adversity, how much will I be able to focus on bringing God the glory.

I have to ask God to lead me in the path to His glory and away from temptation and adversity. I have to ask in order to receive. Will I still have to overcome, yes. Will God deliver me for His glory, yes. God only wants what is best for me and if there are times that I have to experience hardship and overcome, then He will allow it to be. But, I still have the ability and have been instructed by Jesus here in the Lord’s Prayer to ask to be spared from that hardship. If I do not ask, it is likely I will not receive.

It is important that we learn to overcome the temptation and adversity that we are presented with. The thing is that there will be plenty of opportunity to do so without asking for it. God wants what is best for us and when we ask Him, He will provide. Jesus gave us the model prayer and it outlines that we should ask to be delivered and not led into any difficult situations. Asking God for deliverance will lead to the temptation and adversity minimized to that which is necessary for our growth, learning, and bringing of glory to God. No need to ask for more.

Are you asking to be challenged in the interest of growing from it? Are you defining yourself by the temptations and adversity you are experiencing? What if we were to ask to not experience the temptation and adversity as opposed to being delivered from them?