Monday, December 23, 2024

Musing - How Hard are We Trying to Follow After God?

 Hebraic Musing – How Hard are We Trying to Follow After God?

How does Psalm 63:8 apply to us?  “My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.”  We have been granted prevenient grace which means that before a man can seek God, God must first have sought out the man.  And we know God’s son came to earth “to seek and to save the lost”.  God also put in us the urge to seek a ruler/god and there’s a plethora of world religions attesting to that.

God is drawing man, how does man respond?   “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:44 NIV  And “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.” Psalm 42:1

We are all wanting eternal life, or would like to have it.  “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3 

God is a person, so a relationship with Him needs to be cultivated personally to help us grow in appreciation of His Glory.  Full knowledge of one person by another cannot be achieved without long and loving conversations, and the process is never complete.  That relationship is very personal, not just something we do as a body of fellow believers.  Since we are made in His image, we possess the capacity to know Him and to interact with Him. 

Meanwhile, the concept of religious conversion has been made mechanical; faith can now be exercised without a real impact on moral life or embarrassment to our Adamic ego!  Christ can be received without creating any special love or respect for Him.  Looking at Holy men and women in the past, we sense and admire their heart and their desire and their calling after God.  Moses sought God and made a daring request.  “Now show me your glory.”  And God answered by showing Moses His backside! 

David is another OT saint who serves as an example of a serious seeker of God. 

How many “Christians” have recognized God and “found” Him, but now that they know of Him, they are no longer seeking?  And they are no longer seeking further revelation(s).  How has this affected or resulted in some smug interpretations of the Bible?  Instead of seeking His Glory, churches are focused on programs, methods, organizations and activities.  Result, they know God imperfectly and the peace of God scarcely at all.  How many “saved” men are not hungry; nor are they thirsting after God?  In fact, they’ve been taught to be satisfied and encouraged and to be content with little, relying on – “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” Philippians 4:11   And “But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” 1 Timothy 6:8.

Does our prayer life need to be stripped of theology and focus on the “God that made thee”?  And why did He make me?

Concluding prayer –
O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. 
I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace.   I am ashamed of my lack of desire.
O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing;
I thirst to be made more thirsty still.  Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, that so I may know Thee indeed. 
Begin in Mercy a new work of love within me.

Points to ponder

Have we ever asked God to “Show me your Glory”?

Are we seeking God for His Word, or do we let teachers seek for us?

The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One!

Are our prayers really a personal conversation?   Who are we talking to?!?!

Oh God, show me thy glory!     And BTW, have a Merry Christmas

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                           December 24, 2024
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings

Note – Inspired & excerpted from Ch.1 “Following Hard After God”, A. W. Tozer’s “The Pursuit of God

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