The word “seek” means according to Vine’s Dictionary of New Testament Words: “what to obtain.” There are several ideas and persons for which we are to seek. Let us notice these.
SEEK THE LORD In Isaiah 55:6 we find, “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.” There is a time for seeking the Lord. There will be a time when people will no longer be able to seek the Lord. The song says, “Soon will the season of rescue be o’er, Soon will they drift to eternity’s shore; Haste then, my brother, no time for delay, But throw out the Lifeline and save them today” (Throw Out the Lifeline, Edward Ufford). There is within this song the encouragement for us to seek the lost but also for the lost to seek the Lord. We are to be seeking Him before it is too late. Many do not even realize they need to seek the Lord at. Again, that is our job and responsibility as Christians, but everyone also has the job and responsibility to seek the Lord. Let us “seek the Lord while He may be found!” The same idea is stated also in the New Testament. Luke 19:10 informs us, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Jesus was seeking those that were lost, He found some and they are saved. The Lord is still seeking those that need saving. Since the entire world is lost, then all the world needs saving. One of our purposes, given to us by God, is to tell the world of the saving grace of God. We are also to tell the world, what they must do to be saved. The Lord is seeking – let us seek the same today.
Understand that if we are seeking with the right kind of heart we will find. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For everyone that askethreceiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8). God has promised. Do we believe in the promises of God? When you read your Bible there are those who were seeking the Lord, Acts 10 is the record of a man that sought the Lord. He found Him too.
THE LORD SEEKS WORSHIPPERS. Another time the work “seek” is used is found in John 4:23-24. “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” The Father is seeking worshippers, but not just any kind of worshipers. The passage implies that not all worship is acceptable to God. God wants worshippers that will worship Him in spirit and in truth. Our heavenly Father desires that worship comes from the heart of the worshippers. People can come to worship and think that they are worshipping when their heart is not right. People can come to worship and not worship God according to Truth.
IN SPIRIT. Worship must come from the heart. That means we must have the right attitude when we are worshipping. What are we thinking about when we come to worship? Do we listen to the words of the songs that we sing? Do we listen to the prayers that are being lead and we are following along? That also means that our prayers must be able to be heard by all that are in the auditorium. So men should speak up during our prayers. When we enter into the Lord’s Supper part of our worship, where are our minds? We can partake of the worship in an “unworthy” manner. The idea is the manner in which we take the Lord’s Supper. When we give of our means, what is our attitude toward that part of our worship? Are we thankful that we have all that we do and have the opportunity to give back to God a portion of what we He has blessed us with? David said that he would not offer to “God that which cost me nothing” (2 Samuel 24:24). Are we striving to offer to God that which cost us nothing? Do we expect to have it all done for us, or are we willing to participate in our worship? During the preaching where is our mind? Are we following what he is saying or are we passing notes, talking or not paying any attention whatsoever to the sermon? We must work on having the right attitude during our worship. The Father seeketh such to worship Him.
IN TRUTH. Not only that we are to worship God according to truth. The truth is His Word. John 17:17 says, Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” Not only must we have the correct attitude we must also worship God according to what He wants and not what we want. Many in the religious world today worship God according to what makes them happy. They like the entertainment that many churches are offering today. Many like the idea that when they come to worship they do not have to do anything but observe what is going on. If they do not like this week’s production then they may not show up the next week. This is not what God is seeking. Worship must be done according to what God has given us. Thus, we are to sing without the accompaniment of an instrument of music. The instrument that is to be used in our singing is the heart (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). Let us offer to God only that which He has dictated and wants.
WITH FAITH. Finally, “But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). Again, do we believe and accept the promises of God? This passage states that we must believe that God is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Do we put forth the effort to seek the Lord? Some might have to spend more effort than others to seek the Lord. Some might have to spend more time in seeking the Lord. It might come easier for some than it does for others. No matter, though, let us seek the Lord all the days of our life. Let us seek the Lord in the correct way. Let us do Bible things in Bible ways.
Love, Keith
