"God does not force himself upon you, but he promises to reveal himself to you if you honestly seek him.
We have seen that the wisdom of the Book of Proverbs foreshadows Christ, who is the wisdom of God. It is not just a matter of learning some ‘top tips for life’, but learning from the source of wisdom himself.
However, seeking God requires discipline and patience – you have to learn to wait on God. You can miss out if you are in too much of a hurry.
Lord, thank you that when I find you I find life. Help me to seek you daily, to wait patiently for you and to listen to your instructions."
People have many doubts in this whole area. They wonder, ‘If I ask will I receive?’ Jesus says simply: ‘I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you’ (v.9).
Even if you have cleared the first hurdle of doubt, you may trip up on the next hurdle of fear. The fear is about what you will receive. Will it be something good?
Of course, it is important that there is no unforgiveness or other sin in your life, and that you have turned your back on all that you know is wrong. However, even after you have done that, you may have a vague feeling of unworthiness and inadequacy. You may not believe that God would give you anything.
Deuteronomy 4:15-5:33
Seek God persistently
Jesus encourages you not to be put off easily. He tells a story to show the power of ‘persistence’ (v.8, AMP) in even imperfect human relationships (vv.5–8).
He then goes on to explain how persistence is just as important in your relationship with God. ‘Keep on asking ... keep on seeking ... keep on knocking ... For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened’ (vv.9–10, AMP).
Jesus particularly relates this to receiving the Holy Spirit (v.13). You need to keep on seeking for more of the Holy Spirit and his wisdom and power in your life.
Jesus deals with some of the principal difficulties you may have in receiving from God.
1. Doubt
Jesus must have seen that they were a little sceptical because he repeats it in a different way: ‘Keep on seeking and you will find.’ And again he says a third time: ‘Keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you.’
He knows human nature so he goes on a fourth time: ‘For everyone who asks receives’ (v.10). They are not convinced so he says it a fifth time: ‘Everyone who keeps on seeking finds.’ Again a sixth time: ‘To everyone who keeps on knocking, the door will be opened.’
Why does he say it six times? Because he knows our tendency to doubt. You may find it very difficult to believe that God would give you anything – let alone something as wonderful as his Holy Spirit and the gifts that come with the Spirit.
2. Fear
Jesus uses the analogy of a human father. If a child asks for a fish, no father would give them a snake. If a child asks for an egg, no father would give them a scorpion (vv.11–12).
It is unthinkable that we would treat our children like that.
It is unthinkable that we would treat our children like that.
Jesus goes on to say that in comparison with God we are evil! If we would not treat our children like that, it is inconceivable that God would treat us like that. God will not let you down. If you ask for the Holy Spirit and all the wonderful gifts he brings, that is exactly what you will receive (v.13).
3. Inadequacy
It is sometimes easier to believe that he will give gifts to very advanced Christians, but not to us. But Jesus does not say, ‘How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to all very advanced Christians.’ He says, ‘How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’ (v.13).
The second part of the passage teaches us to make sure we are seeking the right things. Some people were seeking, ‘for a sign from heaven’ (v.16). These same people were attributing the work that Jesus was doing through the Holy Spirit to the devil (v.15).
Jesus points out that the devil does not drive out demons (vv.17–20) as Jesus did. Then he tells them not to seek ‘signs’. The only sign we need is the sign of the resurrection (vv.29–30). This is the sign that Jesus is greater than both Solomon and Jonah (vv.31–32).
Don’t seek the wrong things. Seek God, his kingdom, his righteousness and his Holy Spirit.
Lord, today I ask you to refill me with the Holy Spirit. Forgive me for any sin that could be a barrier to receiving. Please fill me with the love, power and wisdom that come from your Spirit.
Seek God personally
You can have a personal relationship with God. God says to his people, ‘To you it was shown, that you might realise and have personal knowledge that the Lord is God’ (4:35, AMP).
Moses tells the people of God that they will be scattered amongst the nations (4:27). But he said, ‘If from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul’ (v.29).
We see this same emphasis on our relationship with God at the start of the Ten Commandments. We live in a world that thinks the only thing that matters is how we relate to other people. How we relate to others is hugely important and it is the subject of commandments six to ten (5:16–21). However, there is something even more important than how you relate to others. Your relationship with God is the most important aspect of your life.
It is out of this relationship that your love for others should flow. God is not an optional extra in your life. Moses says, ‘The Lord your God is a consuming fire’ (4:24). He loves you. He chose you and wants to bless you with his presence (v.37). He is a ‘merciful God’ (v.31). He has set you free from captivity, as he freed the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery’ (5:6).
It is in this context that he tells you to put your relationship with him above everything else (commandments one to four, vv.6–15). The next priority is your relationships in the family (v.16). Then your relationship with others (commandments six to nine, vv.17–20). Finally, commandment number ten addresses your thought-life (v.21).
Moses tells the people to ‘listen’ to these instructions, ‘learn them’, ‘live them’ (v.5:1, MSG). If you seek God daily, wholeheartedly and persistently, you will find life in all its fullness, and it will transform the way that you love and serve others.
1. I am so blessed by Your Word, help me really to apply it. Thank You for Your guidance.Lord, thank you for your amazing promise that, ‘If … you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul’ (v.29). Help me to do that each day – to experience personally your love and great strength, to listen to your commandments and to obey them and to live under your blessing."
2. My last week and thank You for Your provision. Simply thank You.
3. Packing starts today. Praise God for energy. :)
