Taste and See{k}…
I confess that I’m writing this post as a reminder to myself as much as to anyone else. I admit this, so my dear reader realizes that any assertions I make are personal; but if they make you think or convict your heart, then that’s cool, too.
Merriam-Webster defines the verb ‘seek’ in the following way:
: to search for (someone or something
: to try to find (someone or something)
: to ask for (help, advice, etc.)
: to try to get or achieve (something)
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[/pullquote]Hmmm. Seeking seems to involve work, eh? Well, I submit that seeking God and loving Him well takes work. Why? Well, as I’m learning on my 48th travel around the sun, ALL relationships take effort, and God is a God of relationships. Where do I get this? Well, God represents Himself in the ORIGINAL, perfect relationship with the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), each seeking each other and communicating in harmony. And this is holy work. He also made man to have relationship with Himself, and made woman so that man would not be alone on his earthly walk, and before the Original Sin, they were able to walk and talk and hang out with him in Eden. What?! (So jealous). So, if God is doing this work, it’s important work, indeed; and since he put us here to glorify Himself, I submit that much of that glory lies within our relationship with Him and with others. Further, if we are truly seeking His face and His way, we will not only work hard on abiding in Him, but will focus a large bit of ourselves to growing in community with each other. I know I often get very selfish in my walk with God. I realize that He made me and loves me and is my Father, my Counselor, and my best Friend. But guess what, Gretchen? He is this to all who believe. This makes me feel incredibly special and not so special all at once! While it’s great to know that my name is engraved in His palms, and that humbles me and gives me so much pause to consider His greatness and my importance to/in Him, I am also reminded that He is such a big, compassionate, and loving God that His hands hold the etching of many names, every bit as significant and beloved as mine.So, what does seeking look like? Well, if you’ve ever played hide and seek, you know that the object of the game is to search high and low for the hiders until you find them, and if after a given time of searching with no success, you cry out for them to finally come out because the game can’t go on until all parties are home. Seeking Jesus is very similar. And the way He seeks after us is also similar. Jesus wants us to seek after Him because He has already done the heavy lifting in the relationship (because, as I said, relationship is important to Him). He made us, gave His life for us, and waits longingly, but patiently for us to notice how much He loves us, and then even calls us to Himself.
But it’s on us to respond. Okay (I’ll go singular, here), it’s on me to respond. It’s on me to taste and see that the Lord is good. That He is a refuge for me and provides for my every need. It’s on me to realize that I’m not seeking Him or loving Him well if I’m not loving others around me, and in healthy community with them. It’s on me to realize that when I seek to love Jesus, I will love others as He loves them, to the point of laying down my life for them.
It’s on me to know that while I’m super important, I’m no more important than anyone else, and it’s not (just) about me. It’s about Him.
Jesus, thank You for giving me Your grace so that I can seek Your face, love you, and pour out Your love on others. Rinse. Repeat. God, help me to realize that as Your love for me is never ending, so must my love be for you, and by extension, for others. Sanctify me in this process, dear Lord, and Holy Spirit, please fill me each day. I cannot do this without You. In your glorious name. Amen.
- A Friend In Need - August 31, 2018
- Breakin’ It Down - July 23, 2018
- Lean on Me - May 18, 2018
“Well, God represents Himself in the ORIGINAL, perfect relationship with the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), each seeking each other and communicating in harmony. And this is holy work.” So many of us have or have had the idea that once save, that’s it. Sit back and keep our noses clean. But relationships take work! And it is holy work. You hit the nail on the head, Gretchen!
Thank you, Becky! Yes. And sometimes the work is overwhelming, which is why we need Him so. Appreciate your comment. ❤️
And holy work builds muscles. I think we spend a lot of time waiting for God to come to us through FB posts, tweets, even Sunday worship without really engaging in the seeking. Thanks for the reminder!
I love that! Holy work builds muscles. Sure does, & muscles lose strength when we don’t work them. Thanks, Julie.
“It’s on me to realize…” This free will thing is a blessing and a curse! But so glad I get to choose, cause in those moments when I do, it is one big glorious joy. I don’t think we’d ever get that if He decided against that free will thang! He knew we would like that…He knew before we did. wow! What a Father! Thanks, Gretchen, as always for that transparent offering of yourself! So thought-provoking.
Thank you for stopping by, Diane! You’re so right about free will. So hard to choose well, but soooooo worth it when we do.
“It’s on me to realize that I’m not seeking Him or loving Him well if I’m not loving others around me, and in healthy community with them.”
Thank you for this Gretchen. While I have privately and intentionally continued to seek God and grow my relationship with him, I have not been doing so hot with the whole community thing. It’s time for me to branch out. Appreciate you!
Thanks Miss Tara. Loving others well is so hard, sometimes! I have to fight from making it feel like a project or (worse) an imposition. It’s so tempting to just go home and relax into the sanctuary, never to come out again unless I need to. And of course, there’s seasons where we need more rest than others, but suffice to say:I need help here, too. I am serving in community now, but it’s only because of God’s patient grace with me.
“It’s on me to know that while I’m super important, I’m no more important than anyone else, and it’s not (just) about me. It’s about Him.” “It’s on me” implies responsibility on my part, but what freedom comes with it! Great perspective, Gretchen.
Thanks, friend. <3