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Look or Seek?

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Seek the Lord and His strength.  Seek his presence continually.  I didn't know that this exact passage is in the Bible two times.  It is in 1 Chronicles 16:11 (ESV) and Psalm 105.4 (ESV).  The NIV version says "look" instead of "seek".  But isn't there a difference?

This is one of those things where there isn't a difference except that the reader may view the words differently.  For me, there is a difference.  When I look for something, I just look for something.  It is a more casual endeavor.  If I find it, ok.  If I don't, no big deal.  I look in the cabinet for a snack. I look through a sales rack in case I might see something I might want.

But when I seek something I expend energy and there is an urgency in the search. Like, where did my keys go?  How will I get home if I can't find my keys?  I don't stop looking until I find them.  Seeking to me is urgent and constant.  Every place I go, whatever I do, if there is a chance to find it there (whatever "it" is) I look.  Lift pillows from the couch, look under the bed, dump out my purse, clean out the junk drawer.  That is seeking. 

So this verse, or should I say verses since it appears twice, has an urgency to it.  SEEK the Lord and [SEEK the Lord's] strength.  SEEK His presence....

Urgently, seek the Lord.  Watch for Him everywhere until you find Him there, then look for Him at the next place, in the next situation, during this time and the next time.

Urgently seek the Lord, but not only that.  Seek the Lord's Strength.  The Lord's Strength can get us through anything, can fortify us to accomplish anything, can protect us from anything.  We are to seek that strength, the Lord's Strength, in each situation, at each moment, for each task.


Then the last note is to Seek his presence.  God is everywhere at all times.  He is not constrained by walls, mountains, distance, time.  God is.  God was.  God will be.  We are to Seek His Presence.  When we seek His presence, we will act differently.  Like when we were children and acted differently when our favorite teacher was around, or our parents or grandparents.  Sometimes we behaved better because of their presence.  Won't we do the same if we are aware, if we've sought God's presence all the time, in every place?

Dear Lord and Master,  forgive me when I act as though you are not there, when I act as though You are not important enough to seek.  Thank you for coming to find me when I stray.  Thank you for forgiving me.  In Your Powerful Name,  AMEN

Comments

  1. Gwynn TurnerMarch 10, 2010 at 1:56 PM

    Sherri...Looks like a great blog! I've subscribed so I will be reminded when you post - otherwise there's no way I would remember to check it! (old age - lol!)

    I've started one on WordPress but have only made one generic entry - I can't seem to get motivated to get started. If I do, I'll post a link like you did on FB.

    Hugs...Gwynn

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sherri HardingMarch 10, 2010 at 2:01 PM

    Thanks, Gwynn. I look forward to yours o WordPress!!!!

    ReplyDelete

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