Seeker Help

Seeker Help

Acts 17: ²⁴ “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. ²⁵ And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. ²⁶ From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. ²⁷ God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ²⁸ ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

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“Ready or not here I come” I exclaimed. We were playing Hide and Go Seek, and I was the person seeking. I saw a pair of legs behind some bushes. I quietly caught the hider. Now I had some help. This was a fun day!

• I enjoyed looking for the hidden.
• I enjoyed seeking those who needed to be found.
• I enjoyed finding those who were hidden and getting some help to find others.

Paul explained that GOD does not live in manmade buildings, nor does HE need humans to ‘do’ anything for HIM. HE gives everyone life, breath and everything. HE did all of this so humans would seek HIM and perhaps reach out to HIM and find HIM. GOD is always easy to find.

• GOD wants me to be thankful for everything HE has given me.
• GOD wants me to be thankful for the life HE breaths through me.
• GOD wants me to be thankful for JESUS who died for me and is alive providing salvation to those who believe in HIM.

When I complain that someone is not doing their part or are not serving enough, I may not be showing GOD enough appreciation. I mean, when I am thankful, praise comes from my lips. I realize how futile my service really is when I try to serve GOD who needs nothing from me or any human.

GOD is complete. I am thankful that HE takes care of everything. My belief in JESUS makes me complete. Since I am thankful for being complete I seek others who have a sense of emptiness only JESUS can fill. I am grateful GOD allows me to seek HIS sheep.

• What are you thankful for?
• Are you seeking inner peace through certain foods, rituals or buildings?
• Will you seek the Living GOD who provides everything you need to seek others who need HIM?

Simple Example

Simple Example

John 13: ¹² So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? ¹³ You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. ¹⁴ If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. ¹⁶ Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. ¹⁷ If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

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There was something different about this particular leader that I liked. I could not pick out one thing that set this person apart. When I arrived to work, there the person was, greeting me. When I had an issue with something, there the person was to listen. I saw the person making coffee for everyone. The list went on. I wanted to be like that person.

• Some people have impressed me with the way they acted.
• Some people have shown me what true leadership looked like.
• Some people have served me even though I was supposed to be the servant.

JESUS makes HIS actions clear by explaining the foot washing. HE wanted the disciples to understand that it does not take elaborate measures to serve GOD. HE gave them a simple example of serving one another so they would go out and do the same.

• GOD wants me to serve people.
• GOD wants me to reduce how I think about myself and increase servanthood to others.
• GOD wants me to see people as opportunities, not projects or problems.

GOD, with HIS infinite power and wisdom, decided to step off the high throne to wash HIS creation’s feet. HE did not find this as humiliating, rather a prize to be had. HE gets excited about serving me and doe so every day. HE gets more excited when I follow HIS example. I am glad to follow HIS teaching.

• Do you get angry at others quickly?
• Do you feel certain people do not deserve to be served?
• Do you think in order to serve GOD, it has to be something hard or exhausting to do?
• Will you look at JESUS’s example and be simple about serving others today?

All Taken Care Of

John 1: ¹⁹ Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders^[c] in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. ²⁰ He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, ‘I am not the Messiah.’

²¹ They asked him, ‘Then who are you? Are you Elijah?’

He said, ‘I am not.’

‘Are you the Prophet?’

He answered, ‘No.’

²² Finally they said, ‘Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?’

²³ John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, ‘I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Make straight the way for the Lord.”’

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“How much do I have to pay?” was my worrisome question. “Nothing” was the reply. “This trip to the islands is an all expense gift that is given to you and your family.” “You mean I don’t have to do anything?” I asked again.

• There were times when I felt some things were too good to be true.
• There were times when I thought I had to do something even when I didn’t have to.
• There were times when I felt I had to be someone I did not have to be in order to get something special.

John made it clear that he was not the Messiah. He was simply the one who would tell everyone about the great news of JESUS’s arrival. A very simple message was given to people by John that JESUS came to save the world. John didn’t even have to go and get the people. They came to him.

• GOD says to me “I freely give you the gift of salvation.”
• GOD says to me “I will knock on your heart. If you open the door I will come in and sup with you.”
• GOD says to me “I AM the one who pursues you. Open your heart and I will live with you forever.”

JESUS is the messiah and HE did it all. Sometimes I feel pressure to do more so I can ne “closer” to CHRIST. How much closer can GOD get to me than inside of me? JESUS sent HIS HOLY SPIRIT to dwell in me when I confessed I needed HIM as my savior.

HE gave me an unbelievable gift that seems too good to be true… BUT it is! JESUS wants me to be with HIM and HE took care of everything. All expenses of sin are paid. I can enjoy eternal life because of HIM.

• Do you think you have to do more in order to please GOD?
• Do you feel you are “far” away from GOD because you are not getting your way fast enough?
• Will you allow GOD to work in your life and take care of all your needs today?

Driven Achievement

Luke 18: ¹⁸ A certain ruler asked him, ‘Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’

¹⁹ ‘Why do you call me good?’ Jesus answered. ‘No one is good – except God alone. ²⁰ You know the commandments: “You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.”’

²¹ ‘All these I have kept since I was a boy,’ he said.

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“How do I become successful?” I asked a mentor, thinking he would impart some great words of wisdom. “Be early to every meeting” were the only words given to me. “What? This is a lesson on punctuality!?” I skeptically tried the suggestion and I found out he was right.

• There were times when I wanted to succeed.
• There were times when I wanted to get ahead.
• There were times when I desired to climb to the top.

JESUS is met by a rich man who may have been driven by achievements. The rich man used flattering words to put people at ease and called JESUS “good.” JESUS quickly sees through the flattery and says “Good is reserved only for GOD.” This confuses the achievement driven person.

• GOD says to me “I AM GOD alone.”
• GOD says to me “Your righteousness is like soiled diapers.”
• GOD says to me “Humble yourself. The first will be last and the last shall be first.”

GOD is a relationship, not an achievement. HE wants me to want to do the things HE says, not muscle through a set of rules that are sometime quite impossible to keep. GOD knows I need HIM and HE has given me grace beyond measure.

HE also knows that if I base our relationship on how “good” I think I am, I will set HIM up for failure. I can never be good enough to demand GOD to bow down to my desires. HE simply wants to know me and have me seek HIM as my GOD. I am glad I do not have to achieve HIM. HE is always with me.

• Do you look at GOD like HE wants you to “achieve” HIM?
• Are you exhausted thinking HE doesn’t love you because of some sin you recently did?
• Can you stop thinking of GOD negatively and simply have a loving relationship with HIM?

Needing Proof

Luke 16: ²⁴ “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ ²⁵ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. ²⁶ And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’

²⁷ “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, ²⁸ for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ ²⁹ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ ³⁰ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ ³¹ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”

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Feeling a bit unassured, I asked around to see if one of the higher ups was telling the truth about promoting me. When word got back to the person about my inquiries, they said, “I’m sorry, you may not be a fit for this opportunity.”

• There were times when I did not trust what was told to me.
• There were times when I did not completely believe in what was handed to me.
• There were times when I was taught something, yet doubted what I was taught.

JESUS completes HIS recollection of the situation by telling the nameless rich man’s desire. The rich man begged for more comfort in eternity, remembering how comfortable he was on earth. Abraham, who showed his faith on earth, said “No, it’s too late.” Bargaining, the rich man begged specifically to send someone who would rise from the dead. “People won’t believe”, Abraham said.

• GOD wants me to believe in what the prophets wrote.
• GOD wants me to believe in HIS plan of salvation for HIS creation.
• GOD wants me to believe in things that are far out of my reach, yet easy for HIM.

Creation, life after death, Heaven and hell, demons and angels, and miracles are things GOD tells me to believe in, yet there were many times when I doubted. I went for the next best thing which was proof. I needed proof that everything happened as it was told. So I dug into research and could only come to one conclusion, GOD IS. I now fully believe and beg HIS forgiveness for needing proof.

• Do you doubt GOD’s love for you?
• Are you blaming HIM for your life or are you grabbing onto HIS love for you?
• Can you accept JESUS as your savior today without requiring more proof?
• If you need love, will you seek what HE says about HIS love for you today?