Seek – Page 2 – Praying Pint

29.t. “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”

Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Psalms 90:12     So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Psalms 39:4   “O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!

Ephesians 5:15-17    Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,  making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Deuteronomy 32:29   If they were wise, they would understand this; they would discern their latter end!

Proverbs 2:2-6    making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;  yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,  if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,  then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.  For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

There must be practical, lived-out Christianity, which lives wisely toward those who are outside. How we speak has a lot to do with this, so we must let our speech always be with grace. Why, because at all times, every day and minute throughout our lives, we are conscious of how we are living so that Jesus Christ is being honored and glorified. How many times a day do we pass a person who could use a kind word, helping hand, an acknowledgment, or word of encouragement? We get tied up being busy and allow the busyness of life to trap us into thinking we are too busy, too important, not important, or unable to see people through God’s eyes. “Teach us to number our days”, “making the best use of the time”, “number our days”, and “make me know my end and what is the measure of my days” all speak to having godly wisdom, discernment, knowledge, and understanding of who we are in light of who God is and to what He has called us to. How can we be or reflect the light of Jesus Christ if our eyes are closed to the people around us? How can we grow and mature in displaying grace when we don’t even see others around us. I am reminded of a time my wife and I went to visit a dear friend who had just lost His wife. We went out to eat and this man, whose heart what aching from loss, noticed our server seemed out of sorts, troubled. He graciously spoke to her with true concern and then asked if we could pray for her right there as she was taking our order. This is having eyes open to others and discernment to their hurts and needs, no matter what life has thrown at us. Even in his grief, his eyes were open for opportunities to show God’s grace and concern.

We do well to ask God to reveal deep within our hearts and minds, that which is important and that which is not. Busyness does not mean it is important. When we seek wisdom, knowledge, and understanding with the intentional choice, to be led by the Holy Spirit and honor and glorify Jesus Christ, in all things and at all times, it is then we will discern the world and people around us in the light of His grace and love.

29.l. “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things”

Colossians 3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Psalms 16:11   You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalms 73:25-26     Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Hebrews 11:13-16     These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.  For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.

Psalms 119:36-37   Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!  Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.

1 Chronicles 22:19     Now set your mind and heart to seek the LORD your God.

Romans 8:5    For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

1 John 2:15   Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Luke 12:15    And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

“The believer is to ‘seek the things… above.’ The word ‘seek’ marks aspiration, desire, and passion… In order to seek these things the mind must be set on them.” (Morgan) What is it that captures or tries to capture our minds and ultimately our hearts? A seemingly harmless endeavor turns into a heart and mind-consuming desire and soon it replaces or interferes with devotion, submission, worship, obedience, reliance, and glory to Jesus Christ. Scripture tells us to be steadfast, anchored, and heaven-focused all of the time. It does not specify this for specific days or seasons, it is expected that in a man of God it is all the time, and yet, we find ourselves being consumed by things that are not heavenly or Jesus Christ-honoring. How does this happen? The shallowness of personal commitment to spiritual, heavenly, and things of God will always leave a void in a person’s heart, mind, and soul. This void is filled with something, it is not left void. Worldly and fleshly wants, desires, and temptations abound, and in the absence of desire and seeking of spiritual, heavenly, and Godly things in a person’s life will be consumed by the worldly and fleshly. Far too many think believing in Jesus Christ is nothing more than an insurance policy to keep from going to Hell and their lives are neither committed or their hearts desire focused on things above. Examine yourself and see. Is your hearts desire for spiritual, heavenly, and Godly things?

28.x. “For all the nations of the world seek after these things”

Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

2 Samuel 22:7   “In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I called. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry came to his ears.

Micah 7:7  But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.

Deuteronomy 8:3-4   And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

Psalms 112:5-9   It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice.  For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever.  He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.  His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.  He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exalted in honor.

Luke 12:30-33  For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.  Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

1 Timothy 6:17   As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

What we want and what we need are two separate thoughts. What we want can turn us toward what we need, or it can keep us away from what we need. If we want (desire, hope for, set one’s heart on, long for, crave, cry out for) redemption, salvation, forgiveness, understanding, wisdom, and knowledge of God’s mercy, grace, and love in Jesus Christ, our want is in line with what we need. It is in this ever-growing and continually growing want that our need is fulfilled. Our lives become a light in the darkness. Our thoughts, words, and actions repeatedly honor and glorify Jesus Christ.

If however, we want (desire, hope for, set one’s heart on, long for, crave, cry out for) things of this world our wants will not give us what we need. These wants will lead us down paths of loneliness, selfishness, self-reliance, self-worth, proud, greedy, fear, anger, coveting, anxiousness, and confusion. We end up chasing after and wanting satisfaction and find neither.

I think we get confused on wants and needs. The world will try to tell us what we need and if we acquire what it offers we will find our needs fulfilled. It is a lie. What this world has to offer will never fill the void in our hearts and minds that only God can fill. Can you imagine what our lives would be like if we would truly wanted to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all we think, say, and do?

27.d. “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.”

Ephesians 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Nehemiah 9:17  They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.

Psalms 51:1   Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

Isaiah 55:6-8    “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;  let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.

Psalms 103:8-11   The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.  He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever.  He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

Romans 5:8    but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 3:24    and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

“As they were corrupt in their nature, and sinful in their practice, they could possess no merit, nor have any claim upon God; and it required much mercy to remove so much misery, and to pardon such transgressions.” (Clarke) Every reason for God’s mercy and love is found in Him. We give Him no reason to love us, yet in the greatness of His love, He loves us with that great love anyway. Therefore, we must stop trying to make ourselves lovable to God, and simply receive His great love while recognizing that we are unworthy of it. This is the grace secret of the Christian life. (Guzik) He did not wait until we were lovable. He loved us even when we were dead in trespasses, providing nothing lovable to Him. The work of God’s grace, in no way involving man’s merit. Our salvation – our rescue – from spiritual death is God’s work done for the undeserving.

Stop trying to earn God’s love and grace. You never can and never will. Stop keeping a ledger book of all your good and bad deeds in your head hoping the good will outweigh the bad, but rather confess them, repent from them, and lean on Jesus Christ alone. When we willfully choose to disobey God, (knowingly sin), there is no other way to erase it but through trusting in Him alone and resting on His forgiveness, grace, and love. One way to see the greatness of the grace of God is to see how He begs man to receive it. When we offer a gift to someone and they refuse it, we are likely to allow them to refuse and leave them alone. God does not do this with us; even when we refuse His mercy He reaches into His storehouse of grace and persists with us, begging us to receive the free gift. He pursues us. He stands at the door of our hearts and knocks asking to be let in. It is in the rejection of God’s grace and mercy whereby people will spend eternity in Hell.

27.b. “Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened”

Ephesians 1:15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

Matthew 11:25    At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;

1 Corinthians 2:10   these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God

John 14:26   But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

James 3:17-18   But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

Proverbs 2:1 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, listening closely to wisdom and directing your heart to understanding; furthermore, if you call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Man will think the proper study of mankind rests in philosophy, science, cultural and social, studies. There may be some truth to this but in its highest science, loftiest speculation, and deepest philosophy, it will never give wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of God apart from God’s Word. It may engage the attention of a child of God as a study of what man thinks they know or speculate to understand. (Spurgeon) It is good to know thy self but far more beneficial, glorious, and fruitful to know thy God. (Alford)

Our eyes of our heart need to be enlightened by God to understanding and knowledge of Him. Scripture speaks of “hearts of stone” and “hardened hearts) about those who intentionally choose to harden their hearts against the wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of things of God. They are ever hearing the Word of God but there is no enlightenment in their heart. It seems as though it comes in one ear and out the other. We all need to be mindful of not only hearing but seeking to understand. Do we think we can we seek this understanding once per week on Sundays and have any growth, not to mention maturity, in God and things of God? Do we think we can gain this understanding and knowledge by osmosis – somehow it just filters in through all of the chaos and busyness of life? I can’t tell you how many times people quote what was on the news as if it was their own thoughts. They believe the fear, hate, anger, division, worry, etc… because that is what the narrative of “News” tells them to do. They actually believe they should fear or hate or worry or be divisive, or be angry and do not see that these are not their thoughts but the thoughts of those who do not know God or things of God. They have allowed them into their hearts and minds. They have allowed them to take root and grow. They see the fruits of them in their lives and think it is proper fruit. It is not wrong to be informed but we need to be mindful of the source and the underlying message it is giving. We can only do this if the eyes to our hearts and minds are seeking wisdom, knowledge, and understanding from and of God. When you read a news article scan it for words like, it could, it might, it may, it is possible, it is conceivable, it may be, it is feasible, potentially it could, it is probable, it is likely, you should worry about, etc…….. these are all enticing words to engage and develop your thinking toward a specific conclusion of the writer or speaker. When our hearts and minds spend more time on things of this world and what it deems and says should be important to us, we will be filled with dark clouds of thought and it will consume us. How much time is spent catching up on the daily news compared to quality time in God’s Word? How much of your thoughts are consumed with what someone else has determined for you to be worthy of your time and thoughts?

Watch out for what your itching ears are listening to. They will give you insight into what is filling your hearts and minds. Wouldn’t it be something if believers what believers spoke out of their hearts and minds was things of God rather than the vomit coming out of social and media outlets.

26.x. “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth”

Galatians 6:14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

Philippians 3:3   For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—

Philippians 3:7-11     But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ  and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—  that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,  that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Romans 6:6    We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

Colossians 3:1-3    If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

1 John 5:4-5   For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.  Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Paul’s heart cared nothing for the glory that came from fame. He cared nothing for the glory that came from riches. He cared nothing for the glory that came from status and power among men. He only cared about the glory of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul wrote about having crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Now with the flesh on the cross he also put the world on the cross, and considers himself dead to the world. The world could not have any influence over Paul if it were dead, and Paul could not respond to any influence from it if he were dead to the world. The world, in the sense Paul means it here, was not the global earth; nor was it the mass of humanity (which God Himself loves, John 3:16). Instead, it was the community of sinful humanity that is united in rebellion against God. (Guzik)

The battle between fleshly/worldly and things of God is very real. Sometimes it becomes hard to bring these two differences into focus. The fleshly and worldly make promises it can not keep (purpose, satisfaction, power, wisdom, honor, glory, worthiness). These are promises filled with deceit. As soon as some portion is reached, it fades as fast as it came. It consumes time, both physically and mentally. It will rob your heart, exhausting your soul, and fill you with emptiness. It presents itself as our friend who wants to fill our minds with what it thinks is important. It gains foundational roots in our hearts from the minute we were born into this world. It hides exposure by subtle watering and fertilization of the lusts and wants of our sinful nature. It produces worthless sour and bitter fruit that fills the heart and mind but never satisfies. It convinces the heart and mind that it is sweet as honey and you want/need more of it.

The greatest gift from God was His grace, mercy, and love found in and through Jesus Christ. He offers salvation, redemption, and forgiveness to those who would believe, trust, repent and obey. In His mercy, grace, and love He offers life more abundantly, a purpose for the heavenly, and the power of the Holy Spirit to discern and fight off/resist the fleshly/worldly. Without discernment, it is very hard to recognize what is worldly and of the flesh. To have discernment requires you to know the difference between what you see, hear, think, say, and do. How is a person discern whether or not what they see, hear, think, say, and do is fleshly/worldly or godly/heavenly. Every waking moment the eyes and ears to our hearts, minds, and souls are blasted with the worldly and fleshly. These fiery darts come at us every second of every moment. Everyone is targeted. Not a second goes by where there is not an attack on your soul. The problem is having the ability to discern them. God’s Word is our shield against the onslaught of lies and deception of the worldly/fleshly. Yet, how many are prepared for the battle for their soul? How many Christians bring up the Shield of His Word on Sundays but live every other day without its defense? How many fiery darts have punched the heart and soul and the person is not even aware they are seriously wounded? Do we expect God to give us discernment when we neglect His Word? It is through His Word we find true, hope, peace, strength, joy, love, and purpose and satisfaction for our soul. The lies, false hopes and promises, fear, anger, anxiousness, worries, and the shallowness of what the flesh and worldly have to offer are exposed. It is not the spending of time reading His Word, but rather this with a pure foundation of seeking and desiring things of God to honor and glorify Him alone. We will never find the Holy Spirit giving discernment when the heart and mind are set on things of the flesh and this world. How can we say the desires and promises of this world are crucified to me when we can’t even discern the difference between what it offers and things of God?

26.v. “Let no one deceive himself.”

Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

Job 15:31     Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself, for emptiness will be his payment.

Obadiah 1:3    The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?”

Luke 21:8    And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them.

Ephesians 5:6    Let no one deceive you with empty words,

2 Thessalonians 2:3    Let no one deceive you in any way.

1 Corinthians 15:33    Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

1 Corinthians 3:18    Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

James 1:22    But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Job 13:8-9    Will you show partiality toward him? Will you plead the case for God?  Will it be well with you when he searches you out? Or can you deceive him, as one deceives a man?

Jude 1:18    They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.”

Proverbs 1:31    therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices.

Romans 2:6-10    He will render to each one according to his works:  to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;  but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.  There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek,  but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek.

A farmer reaps the same as he has sown. If he plants wheat, wheat comes up. In the same way, if we sow to the flesh, the flesh will increase in size and strength. The farmer also reaps more if he has sown more, and the relationship between what he sows and what he reaps is exponential. What we get out of life is often what we put in. We may fool ourselves by expecting much when we sow little, but we cannot fool God, and our poor sowing results will be evident.

There are many things we seem to naturally have the ability to sow. Hatred, confusion, anxiousness, fear, division, worthlessness, and as well false joy, love, peace, and security. These seem to find root in self-satisfaction, self-worth, and self-reliance.

When we sow to self-satisfaction we may reap temporal satisfaction to our mind, but it soon fades and leaves us wanting something more. It never lasts. Our false thoughts of its ability to satisfy us only drive us toward something more, something bigger, something bigger, something shinier, yet it never seems to satisfy. We are blind to the futility of our thought process that drives it. Self-satisfaction also lies to our soul when it says I am satisfied with what I have done to make myself right before God.

When we sow self-reliance we jump headlong into pride. Self-reliance is very dangerous for the soul. It has eternal consequences. When self-reliance enters our hearts and is played out we are blind and deaf to things of God. Self-reliance says to the heart, mind, and soul, “I can do this on my own”, “I am smart enough”, “I don’t need help”, “I am better, stronger, smarter, wiser, richer, and through my sheer will can overcome and defeat any problem that comes my way. Self-reliance gives false trust in self. Self-reliance is a liar to the soul.

When we sow self-worth we fall into thinking a host of unhealthy and ungodly thoughts. Primarily, I am worthy of God’s grace, mercy, and love. I am more than good enough to receive eternal life in heaven. I am deserving of God’s blessings. These lies are rooted in our sinful nature. We see our worthiness as holiness before God. We falsely claim ourselves justified by our works. We keep a mental ledger book in our heads of all the good we have done to outweigh the bad. Set up our own balance scale and determine our good outweighs the bad.

There is none who does good, no not one. All have sinned and fall short of the glory and holiness of God. The wages of sin is death. What is a person to do to save their soul from eternal hell? Trust not in self or schemes of man but trust fully in Jesus Christ. The beauty of God’s grace, mercy, and love is that it is freely given to all who will trust, believe, rely on, and cling to the sacrifice Jesus Christ made on the cross. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that whosoever believes in Him might not perish but have eternal life.” To trust in Jesus Christ alone is eternal life. To add anything to the work of Jesus Christ is false and will end in eternal hell.

26.r. “I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed”

Galatians 5:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

Romans 14:1   As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.

Romans 8:6     For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Romans 15:1   We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

1 Corinthians 3:1    But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.

Ezekiel 34:16    I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.

James 5:19-20    My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back,  let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Jude 1:22-23     And have mercy on those who doubt;  save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

Paul’s wording here speaks not of a determined and hardened sinner. Instead, the idea is of someone who has fallen into sin, finding themselves trapped in a place they never thought they would be. Overtaken “Contains the idea of falling. It is not the deliberate, the planned, aspect of sin that is stressed here, but rather the unwitting element. Mistake rather than misdeed is the force of the word, though without absolution of responsibility.” (Ridderbos)

When a person is overtaken through the weakness of the flesh, the seduction of the worldly, or temptations of Satan, the outcome is a time in a person’s life where the quiet whispers of the Holy Spirit are being hushed and Jesus Christ is not being honored or glorified. Restore them. This job of restoration is often neglected in the church. We have a tendency to either pretend the sin never happened, or we tend to react too harshly towards the one who has sinned. The balance between these two extremes can only be negotiated by the spiritual. It should be normal to do what God says here, but it isn’t. It is all too easy to respond to someone’s sin with gossip, harsh judgment, or undiscerning approval. (Guzik)

“Let the ministers of the Gospel learn from Paul how to deal with those who have sinned. ‘Brethren,’ he says, ‘if any man is overtaken with a fault, do not aggravate his grief, do not scold him, do not condemn him, but lift him up and gently restore his faith.” (Luther)

Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

We are not to turn a blind eye to a wandering brother. We are not to neglect a brother fallen to temptations of the flesh. We should recognize it but not embrace it. We should, with love, patience, gentleness, and kindness walk alongside them and through the Holy Spirit’s leading, guide them away from their wandering. How many times have you heard parents tell you about how their teenage child has seeming rejected all of what they had taught them? They do not abandon their child, they still love them, they are patient with them, and they pray for them. Parents who have gone through this will tell you more often than not that their adult child later came to them and apologized for how they acted. Very similar to the parable about the prodigal son.

Where there is spiritual weakness, knowledge, understanding, and true brotherly fellowship in the things of God, in the body of the church, more than likely the ability to recognize yet alone guide that person back. Neglect and complacency in God’s Word will hinder your walk with Him and will always put you on paths that do not honor or glorify Jesus Christ.

26.i. “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.”

Psalms 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes! With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth. In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

The foundation for a morally pure life is found in God’s word. God’s word shows us the standard of purity, so we know what is right and what is wrong. God’s word shows us the reasons for purity, so we understand the wisdom and goodness of God’s commands. God’s word shows us the difficulty of purity, and reminds us to be on guard. God’s word shows us the blessings of purity, and gives us an incentive to make the necessary sacrifices. God’s word shows us how to be born again – converted, so our inner man may be transformed after the pattern of ultimate purity, Jesus Christ. God’s word shows us the way to be empowered by the Holy Spirit, so that we have the spiritual resources to be pure. God’s word is a refuge against temptation, giving us a way of escape in the season of enticement. God’s word is a light that clears away the deceptive fog of seduction and temptation. God’s word is a mirror that helps us see our spiritual and moral condition, and thus walk in purity. God’s word gives us wise and simple commands, such as to “Flee youthful lusts” (2 Timothy 2:22). God’s word washes us from impurity, and actually cleanses our life in a spiritual sense (Ephesians 5:26, John 15:3). God’s word is the key to the renewing of our minds, which in turn is the key to personal, moral, and spiritual transformation God’s word gives a refuge against condemnation when we have been impure, and shows us how to repent and come back to a pure life. God’s word shows us how to conduct our lives so that we are an encouragement to others in purity. (Guzik)

26.b. “I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.”

Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

John 4:34    Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

John 5:30     “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

Romans 8:27   And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Ephesians 1:11    In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

John 6:38    For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.

Psalms 40:8     I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”

Psalms 119:92   If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.

Job 23:12   I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever.” –“because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.” – “according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.” – “I delight to do your will”

What is the will of God? Do we search scripture to understand, in part, the will of God? Do we blindly live our lives without giving thought to what God’s will is for our lives? Many books have been written to help us understand the will of God for our lives. Here are a few “The will of God”, What the will of God really means”, “Experiencing God, knowing and doing the will of God”, “Decision making and the will of God”, “What the bible says about how to know God’s will”, “How you can know the will of God”, “Discovering His will for your life”, “Understanding and pursuing the will of God,” “How to know the will of God”, “Walking in the will of God”, “The will of God”, “You can know the will of God”, “Finding God’s will for you”, “How do I know God’s will”, “Discovering God’s will”, “The secret to knowing God’s will for your life”, “Can I know God’s will”, “The will of God”, “Finding God’s will”, etc…………… These books have been mostly written in an attempt to explain and point to understanding the Will of God. I am sure there are many good points and thoughts in these books. Some of them will be similar and some will be one-offs.

At the end of the day, what is important: having a desire for God’s will, seeking God’s will, and believing, trusting, following, and obeying His will. Know this – we can not expect to begin to understand God’s will if we are neglectful and complacent or if our eyes are on the worldly rather than the heavenly, and if our fleshly heart is not surrendered. Seeking, desiring, and wanting to do the will of God should not be seen as a one and done event, but rather, an intentional daily continual choice – a way of life – wanting to be and willing to be lead by the Holy Spirit of God for the glory and honor of Jesus Christ.