Topical Bible: Seeking God: Saints: Set Their Hearts To

◄ Seeking God: Saints: Set Their Hearts To ►

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In the Christian tradition, seeking God is a fundamental aspect of the believer's life, characterized by a deep, earnest desire to know and experience the presence of the Almighty. The saints, those who are set apart for God's purposes, exemplify this pursuit by setting their hearts to seek Him with diligence and devotion.

Biblical Foundation

The Bible provides numerous examples and exhortations regarding the importance of seeking God. In 1 Chronicles 22:19, David instructs Solomon, "Now set your heart and soul to seek the LORD your God. Begin building the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy articles of God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the LORD." This passage highlights the intentionality required in seeking God, as well as the connection between seeking Him and fulfilling His purposes.

Similarly, in 2 Chronicles 11:16, we read about the faithful remnant from the tribes of Israel: "Those from every tribe of Israel who had set their hearts on seeking the LORD, the God of Israel, followed the Levites to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to the LORD, the God of their fathers." This demonstrates that seeking God often involves a communal aspect, where the faithful come together in worship and sacrifice.

Characteristics of Seeking God

1. Wholeheartedness: Seeking God requires a complete and undivided heart. In Psalm 119:10, the psalmist declares, "With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me stray from Your commandments." This verse underscores the necessity of a wholehearted commitment to God's ways and His Word.

2. Diligence: The pursuit of God is not passive but requires active and persistent effort. 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." The promise of reward for those who diligently seek God serves as an encouragement for believers to persevere in their quest.

3. Humility: A humble heart is essential in seeking God. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God promises, "If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land." Humility involves recognizing one's dependence on God and turning away from sin.

4. Obedience: True seeking of God is accompanied by a desire to obey His commands. In Deuteronomy 4:29, Moses tells the Israelites, "But if from there you will seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul." This seeking is linked with a commitment to live according to God's statutes.

Examples of Saints Who Sought God

· David: Known as a man after God's own heart, David exemplified a life of seeking God. In Psalm 27:4, he expresses his singular desire: "One thing I have asked of the LORD; this is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and seek Him in His temple."

· Daniel: Despite living in exile, Daniel set his heart to seek God through prayer and fasting. Daniel 9:3 records, "So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petitions, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes."

· Ezra: As a priest and scribe, Ezra devoted himself to seeking God and teaching His laws. Ezra 7:10 states, "For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, to practice it, and to teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel."

Encouragement for Believers

The call to seek God is timeless and extends to all believers. In Jeremiah 29:13, God assures His people, "You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." This promise serves as a powerful motivation for Christians to set their hearts on seeking God, knowing that He is faithful to reveal Himself to those who earnestly pursue Him.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Chronicles 11:16
And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice to the LORD God of their fathers.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Fenelon -- the Saints Converse with God
... THE SAINTS CONVERSE WITH GOD. ... said, in writing to a pious friend"If you are seeking
less to ... in their own eyes, will be objects of the mercy of God; while some ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons vol 2/fenelon the saints converse.htm

The Necessity of Diligently Seeking the Saints' Rest.
... while they neglect the kingly dignity of the saints! ... Though God must give us these
without our merit, yet he ... not give them without our earnest seeking and labor ...
/.../baxter/the saints everlasting rest/chapter vii the necessity of.htm

First, I am to Consider what the Keeping of the Heart Supposes and ...
... and obedience to the will of God; and self-seeking by self ... many an upright heart
has been laid low before God; 'O what a heart have I.' Saints have in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/flavel/on keeping the heart/first i am to consider.htm

The Endless Quest
... as the text says, and you are thus seeking out God. ... see Me, and live." We must grow
like God before we ... it is only His very choicest and chiefest saints who do ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/whyte/lord teach us to pray/xxiii the endless quest.htm

Following Hard after God
... Thus the whole testimony of the worshipping, seeking, singing Church ... of a grand army
of fragrant saints is rejected ... some lonely place and pray, "O God, show me ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/tozer/the pursuit of god/i following hard after god.htm

The Wicked Heart Set to do Evil.
... in perfect sympathy with God, desiring and seeking only God's ... of their dark home;
but the saints with firm step, yet solemn heart, proclaim God's law is ...
/.../finney/sermons on gospel themes/viii the wicked heart set.htm

The Hopeless Condition of the Left-Behind Ones.
... that following the Rapture of the saints many of ... Their seeking will be in vain, because
they have delayed the ... God will laugh at them, laugh at their calamity ...
/.../pink/the redeemers return/2 the hopeless condition of.htm

The Sixth Season
... to be feared in the assemblies of his saints, and to ... be of special use to keep your
heart with God in duty ... and laying up for eternity; now I am seeking for glory ...
//christianbookshelf.org/flavel/on keeping the heart/vi the sixth season.htm

The Saints' Rest is not to be Expected on Earth.
... 5. It is seeking rest where it is not to be ... unwillingness to die, that we may possess
the saints' rest. ... is not desirable; but the soul's rest with God is, to ...
/.../baxter/the saints everlasting rest/chapter x the saints rest.htm

"But the End of all Things is at Hand, be Ye Therefore Sober and ...
... vanity, as ever ye were in the seeking of God ... The child of God should be like mount
Zion, that ... It is a strange language, saints, "Set not your affections upon ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xx but the end.htm