Western Hills Christian Church: “You are family here!”

And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him.
Mark 1:36

Simon Peter is well known to us for his foolish, extemporaneous statements throughout the Gospels (Matthew 16:22; 17:4; 26:33). But Peter was always seeking after Jesus. Peter followed Jesus from afar during the night of Jesus’ crucifixion (Matthew 26:58). Peter ran to the tomb when he heard Jesus had risen (Luke 24:12). Peter did not always say or do the right things, but he did constantly seek to be with Jesus. Because of this, he was continually encountering his Lord and growing to be a more faithful disciple.

Whenever we see Peter coming to Jesus he is always accompanied by others. Because Peter was seeking Jesus, others sought Him too. What are you known for by those who know you best? Do they see you searching for fame, power, success, or happiness? Are you known as a person who seeks after Jesus? God promises: “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

Did you begin today intent on encountering Jesus? Is your search for Him halfhearted, or are you seeking Him with all your heart? Have others grown closer to Jesus because they followed your example and sought Jesus? If your heart is set on pursuing Jesus, you will always find Him. “And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come” (Revelation 22:17).

Henry and Richard Blackaby
Experiencing God Day-by-Day

The Father Draws You

He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”
John 6:65

Throughout Jesus’ ministry on earth, He never seemed intimidated by the crowds.  Instead, He looked into the multitudes and focused on those whom His Father was sending to Him.  Jesus knew that because of sin, no one naturally seeks after God.  Sinful man’s inclination is to hide from God, rather than to come to Him (Genesis 3:8; Psalm 14:1-3).  Therefore, whenever Jesus saw that the Father was drawing a person to Himself, Jesus immediately began relating to that person.

Jesus observed the great lengths to which the despised tax collector, Zacchaeus, had gone in order to see Him pass by.  In response, Jesus immediately left the crowd and spent time with this man in whom the Father was obviously working (Luke 19:1-10).  When Jesus noticed a man following after Him, Jesus spoke to Andrew, “Come!” (John 1:39).  Every time the disciples experienced a new insight into the truths of God, Jesus recognized that it was the Father who had been at work in their lives (Matthew 16:17).

As your desire to spend time alone with Jesus, recognize that this is the Father drawing you to His Son.  You do not seek quiet times with God in order to experience Him.  The fact that He has brought you to a place of fellowship with Him is evidence that you are already sensing His activity.  As you read the Scriptures and pray, trust that God will honor your response to His leading by teaching you more about Himself.

Henry and Richard Blackaby
Experiencing God Day-by-Day

Have You Done What You Know to Do?  Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
James 4:17

It is never a minor thing to know God’s will and not do it. God calls this sin. We can make excuses for our lack of obedience: "I’m just not ready yet" or "I’ll do it later!" or "I don’t think it will make a difference" or "I can’t afford to!" We rationalize, we procrastinate; yet, in God’s eyes, rationalization and procrastination are nothing more than disobedience. At times we deceive ourselves into thinking that good intentions equal obedient actions. They do not. A good intention without corresponding activity is disobedience. When we encounter God and He gives us a direction, it is not enough to write down the date in our spiritual journal, or even to tell our friends of our "decision." God’s call is not to "make a decision" but to obey! Deciding to obey is not equal to obeying! (Matthew 21:28-31). Loudly affirming the necessity of obedience is not the same as obeying (Luke 6:46). Making commitments, even publicly, is not the same as obeying.

God told King Saul to wait until the prophet Samuel arrived. Instead of waiting, Saul took matters into his own hands and offered a sacrifice. Saul discovered, to his deep dismay, that other acts of supposed piety do not take the place of obeying a clear command from God (1st Samuel 15:22). As with Saul, God expects you to obey everything exactly as He tells you. Only obedience satisfies God’s desire for obedience!

Henry and Richard Blackaby
Experiencing God Day-by-Day

At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision.

Daniel 9:23

"For you are beloved."  Could there be any words from God more welcome than these?  Daniel was in exile in Babylon as a result of his nation’s utter defeat by the Babylonians.  He desperately wanted to make sense of his circumstances.  So he did what he had done so many times before: he prayed.  God immediately dispatched the angel Gabriel.  Gabriel revealed that God had sent him to Daniel at the beginning of his supplications.  God did not even wait for Daniel for finish his prayer.  Why? Because God loved Daniel greatly.  What a marvelous testimony!  There had been times when Daniel’s love for God had been put to the test.  Now, when Daniel was in need, God was quick to respond in love to him.

God wants to answer the prayers for those whose hearts are completely His (2nd Chronicles 16:9).  God can accurately orient you to the events of your day.  Media, public opinion, and political leaders cannot tell you the truth of your circumstances.  Only God can.  God loves you and will speak to you in His time.  His answer may come immediately as it did in Daniel’s case, or it may be delayed, but it will come (Daniel 10:13).  If it seems as though everything is crumbling around you, and you wonder why you do not see God’s activity, take comfort in knowing that you are loved in heaven.  If you are genuinely seeking God’s answers, you can go to your Father confidently with your questions, He will respond to you in love (Luke 11:13-15).

Henry and Richard Blackaby
Experiencing God Day-by-Day