Topical Bible: Seeking God: Includes Seeking: His Precepts

◄ Seeking God: Includes Seeking: His Precepts ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

Seeking God is a central theme throughout the Bible, emphasizing the importance of pursuing a relationship with the Creator. This pursuit is not merely an intellectual exercise but a heartfelt endeavor that involves the whole being—mind, soul, and strength. The Scriptures consistently encourage believers to seek God earnestly, promising that those who do so will find Him.

Biblical Foundation

The call to seek God is woven throughout the biblical narrative. In the Old Testament, the psalmist declares, "Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face always" (1 Chronicles 16:11). This exhortation underscores the necessity of continually turning to God for guidance, strength, and fellowship.

The prophet Isaiah echoes this call, urging, "Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near" (Isaiah 55:6). This passage highlights the urgency and timeliness of seeking God, suggesting that there are opportune moments when God is especially accessible to those who pursue Him.

In the New Testament, Jesus Himself affirms the importance of seeking God. In the Sermon on the Mount, He instructs, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). Here, seeking God is linked with prioritizing His kingdom and righteousness above all earthly concerns.

Seeking His Precepts

Seeking God involves more than a desire for His presence; it includes a commitment to understanding and obeying His precepts. The psalmist expresses this desire, saying, "I seek You with all my heart; do not let me stray from Your commandments" (Psalm 119:10). This verse illustrates the connection between seeking God and adhering to His commandments, suggesting that true seeking involves a dedication to living according to His will.

The pursuit of God's precepts is further emphasized in Psalm 119:45, "I will walk in freedom, for I have sought Your precepts" . Here, the psalmist links the seeking of God's laws with the experience of freedom, indicating that obedience to God's commands leads to a liberated and fulfilling life.

Promises to Those Who Seek

The Bible assures believers that seeking God is not a futile endeavor. In Jeremiah 29:13, God promises, "You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart" . This promise underscores the faithfulness of God to reveal Himself to those who earnestly pursue Him.

Moreover, Hebrews 11:6 states, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him" . This verse highlights the necessity of faith in the seeking process and assures believers of God's reward for their diligent pursuit.

Practical Aspects of Seeking God

Seeking God is a dynamic and ongoing process that involves several practical aspects. Prayer is a primary means of seeking God, as it allows believers to communicate with Him, express their desires, and listen for His guidance. The study of Scripture is another vital component, as it reveals God's character, will, and precepts.

Worship, both personal and communal, is also integral to seeking God. Through worship, believers express their love and reverence for God, drawing closer to Him in spirit and truth. Additionally, fellowship with other believers provides encouragement and accountability in the pursuit of God.

In summary, seeking God is a multifaceted endeavor that encompasses a heartfelt desire for His presence, a commitment to His precepts, and the assurance of His promises. It is a journey that requires faith, diligence, and a willingness to prioritize God's kingdom above all else.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 119:45,94
And I will walk at liberty: for I seek your precepts.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

"And this is his Commandment," &C.
... a rational and deliberate action, which necessarily includes the sense ... inseparably
knit with it, love to God and men ... wrong your own souls by seeking to prevent ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon iii and this is.htm

Submit Yourselves Therefore to God. James 4:7.
... that true acquiescence in God's moral law includes actual obedience. ... is a very different
thing from seeking supremely our ... has been made, by which God offers us ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/submit yourselves therefore to god.htm

The Secret of Tranquillity
... is of far more importance that we should become accustomed to apply this precept
of seeking guidance from ... No: but 'unto God'"which includes all these ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/the secret of tranquillity.htm

Faustus Claims that the Manich??ans and not the Catholics are ...
... the kingdom." Again, to the rich man seeking for eternal ... not be received into the
kingdom of God for the ... to decry the Catholic Church, which includes many weak ...
/.../faustus claims that the manichaeans.htm

Letter xvi. To the Bishops of Sicily.
... of the bridegroom, was so faithful in seeking, "not His ... brethren: for thus, by the
aid of God's grace, we ... from the Acts, and here he expressly includes it in ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/letter xvi to the bishops.htm

The Honored Servant
... must also wait upon our Master, seeking his smile ... This waiting also includes
acquiescence in his will; not ... and we hold ourselves entirely at God's disposal then ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/the honored servant.htm

Repentance
... Repentance includes sorrow for sin and a turning away from ... To all these souls, who
are vainly seeking to drink ... its holy precepts, and saw himself as God saw him ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/steps to christ/chapter 3 repentance.htm

Book ix. In the Last Book we Treated of the Indistinguishable ...
... But if what things soever includes all things without exception ... those who are given
to Him, nor seeking to do His ... the Father, save He which is from God, He hath ...
/.../hilary/the life and writings of st hilary of poitiers/book ix in the last.htm

Human Inability
... If coming to Christ includes the utterance of a prayer, man ... Let his statement be
but true, it is idle to ... me to exercise the mental idea of seeking God, as it ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/human inability.htm

Grace and Graces
... might be flung to a dog; no seeking for gratitude ... give with simplicity' is to give
as God gives ... We have already pointed out that this exhortation includes a much ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/grace and graces.htm