31 October 2023 - God rewards those who seek Him

Hebrews 11:6(MSG) It's impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.

Faith is trusting that God will do what He has said He would do. This verse gives us two truths on faith. First, faith begins with our belief that God exists. You can’t put your faith and trust in someone you don’t believe exists.

Second, you must believe that God is the rewarder of those who seek Him. If God just exists and never interacts with us, then what does it matter? However, if God rewards those who seek Him with all their heart. God promises those who seek Him and place their faith in Him, are rewarded.

A person who is diligently seeking after God will go to any length to find God and obey His word. Jesus teaches us that we must have this commitment to God saying:

Matthew 16:24-26(MSG) “Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?”

Matthew 16:24-25(TLB) Then Jesus said to the disciples, “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who keeps his life for himself shall lose it; and anyone who loses his life for me shall find it again.”

Romans 2:5-8(MSG) You’re not getting by with anything. Every refusal and avoidance of God adds fuel to the fire. The day is coming when it’s going to blaze hot and high, God’s fiery and righteous judgment. Make no mistake: In the end you get what’s coming to you - Real Life for those who work on God’s side, but to those who insist on getting their own way and take the path of least resistance, Fire!

Ask yourself whether you are diligently seeking after God. Are you seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness?

Matthew 6:33(MSG) “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers - most of which are never even seen - don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.”

Are you taking up your cross every day and following Christ?

God rewards those who diligently seek Him. God rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Seek God in faith, no matter where you are in life!

Jeremiah 29:13(NIV) You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.