Tuesday Thought -- January 6, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.” (Proverbs 8:17)

The Bible contains a paradox -- actually, it contains several of them, but here’s one: those who seek God will find Him, but no one finds God by seeking Him.

Read these verses that declare the first truth:

“If you seek him, he will be found by you.” (1 Chronicles 28:9 -- spoken to Solomon)

“If you seek him, he will be found by you.” (2 Chronicles 15:2 -- spoken to Asa)

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

“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.” (Lamentations 3:25)

“He who seeks finds.” (Matthew 7:8)

“God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him.” (Acts 17:27)

“He rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

Yet, Paul declares the other side of the paradox:

“There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.” (Romans 3:11)

The truth is that no one does seek God of his own initiative. The only ones who seek God are those who are responding to God’s work drawing them toward Him.

Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” (John 6:44)

But, God draws many who do not respond. Only those who respond to God’s work drawing them to Him, only those who seek Him as He draws them, come into a relationship with Him.

God has drawn us into a relationship with Him -- salvation is always at God’s initiative -- it is always about His grace, about His work in our lives. Thank God for His work.

Recognize that those around you have the opportunity to respond or not to respond to God’s work in their lives, to seek Him or to turn away from Him. Encourage them, as much as you have opportunity, to seek God. And let’s continue to seek God ourselves, as He continues to work in our lives.

His, by Grace,

Steve