What do You Seek?

What do You Seek?

by David Brenneman 

What drives you?  What brings you the most joy?  When your thoughts give flight, where do they go? 

Percentage wise, how much of your day is pointing towards anything to do with Jesus?  Is it non-stop, one thing after another, without regard to what in the world the Spirit of God would have you doing instead?

Many people choose to go through studies to achieve a piece of paper called a degree.  Millions go into debt to have that hanging on their wall, to have that attached to their name. 

Would you do the same higher learning experience for Jesus about Jesus and for Jesus?  

We, across the world, spend billions on hobbies, on sporting events, movies, and don't get me started on the high volume of food that accompanies such things...and yet billions of people aren't taken care of in the world. 

There's nothing wrong with higher education.  There's nothing inherently wrong with hobbies etc.  But what are you doing to invest in your life in Christ Jesus?  

All who want all those things mentioned, be it education or leisure, sacrifice something to get whatever is desired. 

Why would you sacrifice so much for what does not last, which only becomes a memory that you will soon forget?  

When you stand before Jesus, you do realize that what you've done for God will be all that matters, all that counts?  Not how many movies you've seen. Not how many games you've attended. Not how much money you made or what you spent on yourself.  Not on how many degrees you obtained.  Not on any Earthly thing. 

What did you do to invest in your sanctification?  What did you do to learn about a right relationship with Jesus? What did you desire? Was it what God desires?  

"And He summoned the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it benefit a person to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what could a person give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”" Mark 8:34-38.

What does it profit you to only be after what you want?  What does it get you?  Have you disregarded others to get what you wanted?  Dissecting their lives as unworthy or undesirable to justify your stepping on them or severing your relationship with them to get your prize?

A healthy life means eating responsibility. 

A healthy Spiritual life means eating responsibility too.

An entire industry is out there called fitness centers.  Millions will get up early, fix foods they over spent on to try to obtain a healthy body.  Yet most of these aren't doing anything towards a healthy relationship with Jesus by spending at minimum the same time with God. 

Was reading in Numbers again this morning and in this passage the Lord wasn't pleased with the Children of Israel because they were not at all attempting to listen or to obey.  Interestingly enough the portion of my Bible plan took me to John.  The people were trying to yet again try to manipulate Jesus to get what they wanted out of God, just like their ancestors. 

What do you pray for or about?  What is really important to you?  Would anything on that list include subjects that involve growing in Christ?  

"Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You." Psalms 119:11.  What have you treasured in your heart?  Statistics on movies or fictional characters?  Sports statistics?  Useless facts on this or that?  

What are you putting into you so that you don't sin against God?

"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:5.

Roots of bitterness have no place in that vine of Christ.  Selfishness or self-centered living has no place in that vine of Christ. 

You DO realize that EVERYTHING you've done that has NOTHING to do with growing in Christ Jesus, is what WILL be burned up?  

That we will be probably asked why we were selfish and took part in ruining lives that the Spirit brought into our lives for His purposes?   

Who do you seek in the mornings that you've been graciously granted by the breath of God to have another of?

Didn't consider that did you?  The breath of life began with Jesus breathing into Adam.  By His grace it continues in you. 

You owe every single breath you take to His unmerited favor.  What are you giving in return to this?

I took a challenge by my Pastor of the Church we go to, to tip the balance of what I spend my time doing to add more in regards to time in the Word of God and to prayer.  

You cannot understand the Word of God without the Spirit of God to teach you.  Pray before you get into anything.  Make whatever is important to Jesus important to you.  So what if you miss out on things the world says is important or is a hallmark of success.  By sheer repetition you'll begin hiding His Word in your heart that you might not sin against Him. 

"In the morning, Lord, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will present my prayer to You and be on the watch." Psalms 5:3.

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33.

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. Lockman Foundation.