Grant Abbott Child of Father, Follower of Son, Student of Spirit

It is important to differentiate what kind of seeking we are talking about:

1) Is a person seeking to start a relationship with God
or
2) Is a person seeking to have a closer relationship with God

For Alternative #1:
People seek God based on his revelation to us.
God the Father revealed himself through his creation (Rom 1;20)
God the Son revealed himself through his incarnation (John 1:1-18)
God the Holy Spirit revealed himself through Christians in the church (Heb 2:4)

All these activities of God are recorded for us in the bible, which is the Word of God (2 Tim 3:16). Many books of the bible actually record God speaking to people (Gen 9:8-17). Other prophetic books record God speaking through his prophets to deliver messages to various people (Amos ch 1-9). Then Jesus, the Son of God, became a human being. Jesus showed us exactly what God is like, his will and purposes for human beings (Heb 1:3). Then Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to indwell believers beginning on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-41).

So then, people can seek God by pursuing his revelation to us. This pursuit will lead us to God's plan for our salvation. Humans are separated from a relationship with God because of our sin. But God had a plan to save us (John 3:16). Jesus, the Son of God, became a human being, lived a perfect life, suffered and died on the cross to pay the penalty for all the sins of the world and was resurrected again as proof that his sacrifice was enough (Acts 2:1-41).

Our response to this plan is to repent of our sins (Mark 1:15) and to believe in what Jesus has done (John 11:27; Acts 16:30-33) and we too will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19-20).

Alternative #2
For people who already have a relationship with God, we are invited to seek him so we can have the closest possible relationship. So how do we seek him? Here are my top 12 suggestions (in no particular order):

1) Seek God with all your heart (Deut 4:29)
2) Seek God by surrendering to his rule and reign (ie kingdom) in our lives (Matt 6:33)
3) Seek God by turning away from evil and wickedness and turning toward God in good deeds (Psalm 53:2; Heb 10:24)
4) Seek God by following Jesus Christ (Matt 16:24-27)
5) Seek God by walking with the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22-25)
6) Seek God by talking to him in prayer (Matt 6:9-13; Matt 7:7-8) 
7) Seek God by persisting in doing good for other people (Rom 2:7; 1 Cor 10:33)
8) Seek God by trusting in Him - living by faith (Heb 11:6)
9) Seek God by acting justly, loving mercy and walking humbly with him (Micah 6:8)
10) Seek God by worshipping him in spirit and truth (Deut 5:7-8; John 4:24, Matt 18:20)
11) Seek God through fellowship with the local church (Acts 2:42-47)
12) Seek God by studying the bible (2 Tim 3:16)

When we seek God in this manner we will experience eternal life - that abundantly fulfilling and deeply satisfying life that Jesus promised (John 10:10)

July 20 2018 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

1. Become thoroughly familiar with His word (the Bible), which is God's revelation of Himself to humanity. Read it in its entirety (from front to back, just as one would with any other book), rather than in isolated snippets that are removed from their larger context. Use concordances and commentaries (either hard-copy or online) to assist with understanding difficult sections, or with placing the various books of the Bible in their historical setting.

2. Take the Bible's teachings to heart and incorporate them into daily life and actions, with primary emphasis (if one has not already done so) on placing faith in Christ for the forgiveness of sins and the attainment of eternal life.

3. Attend regular Christian discussion groups (at a church, for example) or read the thoughts of Christian authors or commentators. (I started with Mere Christianity by the English author C. S. Lewis.)

4. Bring individual concerns and hopes to God in prayer, and ask for His guidance and help in determining and being shown His will.

5. Join in activities that further the expansion of God's kingdom (such as through helping others who have specific needs or are less fortunate), whether done in a group with other Christians (since the community of believers is a means through which God works) or individually, such as former President Carter's work with Habitat for Humanity, or learning through training with groups such as Laubach Literacy how to teach others to read, so that they can read the Bible for themselves.

July 19 2018 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

James Kraft 74 year old retired pipeline worker

If you are a believer, saved by grace, then there are times we do not know what to do in every situation. We are to seek God and pray to discern His will which will always be better than our will.

For instance, if you have a job, and get offered another job that seems better than the one you have, we should seek the Lord's will whether to stay where we are, or move on. God always has our best interest at heart. He knows what will work out for our benefit, and what won't.

I can only speak from experience. I was offered a middle management job with the company I was working for. I prayed about it and the Lord reminded me of a job I had before in middle management that I did not like.

I told my boss I was not going to take the job. He could not believe it, but he was also a believer and so when I told him I had prayed about it, he said that was good enough for him. Shortly thereafter I was offered another job that I was much more suited for and had the gifts that were required. I took that job and praised the Lord for waiting on Him, and for not taking a job that had many perks, but I would not have liked as well as the one He had for me. 

Money and status are not all they are cracked up to be. There have been many other times I have not known what to do. There was a certain motorcycle I wanted years ago. But I never got to own one. Then, many years later, the Lord brought one to me exactly like the one I had wanted. It was as if He was saying, "Now is the time." 

We do not always make the right decisions. But the Lord can even work out our wrong decisions for good, and for His purpose. 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.

Romans 3:28 And we know that ALL THINGS work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose.

November 23 2018 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report