Seek

God said to the Israelites through Amos in Chapter 5, “Seek Me and live”, “Seek the Lord and live”, “Seek good and not evil, that you may live”. This was spoken to people who were bringing sacrifices, offerings, and having solemn assemblies; a “religious” people by outward appearance.

However, God looks deeper than our actions into the motives of our hearts and what we love and truly “seek”. God called them to repentance for hearts that were callous or indifferent to the weaker or downcast people in society, their Israelite brothers and sisters. They had placed their trust in themselves, their perceived relationship with God, their worship “style”, and their material “strongholds”. 

They had become fixated on enjoying life to the spiritual exclusion of the Giver of life! In Chapter 6, God pronounces “woe” on those that are “at ease in Zion”, those that “lie on beds of ivory” and “stretch themselves out on their couches”, that crave a rich diet, that sing “idle” songs that sound beautiful to the natural ear, that enjoy wine to excess by the “bowl”, and that enjoy the pleasures of being anointed with oils.

What they did not have was a “grief” over the moral “ruin” of God’s chosen people. Their “pride” in themselves reflected what they were “seeking”; self-pleasure, self-satisfaction, self, self, self! God said, “I abhor your pride” and “I hate” the things you have placed your trust in (“Strongholds”).

God said to “Seek” Him. How? Isaiah 55:3, 6-7 gives some direction. “Incline your ear” (listen to God), “come to Me” (change your direction. Repent.), “hear” (obey), “call upon Him” (confess your need for Him.), “forsake” your wicked ways and unrighteous thoughts, and “return to the Lord” (forsake the ways of the world).

God says, “Seek My face” in Psalm 27:8. Seek Him fully. Not seeking just parts of Him such as peace, power, or grace. If we are seeking Him face to face in humble love and obedience, the relationship is beyond articulation. Are we settling for so little? Are we worshipping in style rather than in truth.

David’s heart was to “dwell” in the house of the Lord forever. Does that desire consume us as well? Or do we find our heart satisfied with far less?

“Seek” Him and He will be found (1 Chronicles 28:9). “Seek” His face and He will hear and 

heal (2 Chronicles 7:14). “Seek” Him that your ways may be “pure” (Psalm 119:9-16). God calls us to “seek” Him “if you have been raised with Christ” (Colossians 3:1-4), and finally God “rewards” those who “seek” Him (Hebrews 11:6).

May we in absolute honesty search our hearts and have God reveal the purity and depth of our “seeking”. May we be found as good and faithful stewards recognizing the price paid by our Lord and Savior for the privilege to “seek”!