Finding God
Jeremiah sent a message to those taken captive in Babylon. He shared with them what to do while they waited for God to deliver their descendants from the Babylonians and send them back to rebuild Jerusalem. The people were very discouraged, but he was trying to cheer them up. I believe his best counsel was that they should seek God with all their heart. Then, they would find God. (Jeremiah 29:13) God has not changed, and people are the same, so this applies to us, too.
Yes, I know that God seeks us before we seek Him. He comes to each person and reveals Himself to us, so we can know Him by grace through faith. That is what He had done with the children of Israel. They should have had not doubts about God, and they should have trusted Him fully after all He had done for them. However, they did not trust Him. They turned to other gods. They thought they could fool God with lukewarm hearts toward Him. However, that is never the case. God knows our hearts. That is why He gave this most important message to them and to us.
When we want to respond to God's revelation, or when we need to return to Him, it must be with all of our heart. We can't seek Him partially. We can't be hypocritical about believing in Him. He will see through that mask every time. The only way to go to God is with all of our love and trust. Anything less, and we will not find Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Jeremiah 30-32.
Yes, I know that God seeks us before we seek Him. He comes to each person and reveals Himself to us, so we can know Him by grace through faith. That is what He had done with the children of Israel. They should have had not doubts about God, and they should have trusted Him fully after all He had done for them. However, they did not trust Him. They turned to other gods. They thought they could fool God with lukewarm hearts toward Him. However, that is never the case. God knows our hearts. That is why He gave this most important message to them and to us.
When we want to respond to God's revelation, or when we need to return to Him, it must be with all of our heart. We can't seek Him partially. We can't be hypocritical about believing in Him. He will see through that mask every time. The only way to go to God is with all of our love and trust. Anything less, and we will not find Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Jeremiah 30-32.