November 3, 2023 -- Proverbs 2 -- Pursuing God
/People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!
My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
2 making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
3 yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
4 if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
Proverbs 2:1-5 ESV
Think of the great lengths an alcoholic will go to so he can secure money for his next drink. Maybe begging at the side of the road or stealing things to sell to get money for his next shot. Or, a greedy man, loaning money at interest rates that are cruel and making shady deals so that he can increase his wealth. Or the glutton who publicly eats one cookie, and in private finishes the package. The point is that sinners will expend a lot of energy, thought, and time to pursue their sins; now, those who are in Christ, those who fear the LORD are to use their former perseverance in sin and instead persevere in seeking God.
With the skills and patience the alcoholic formerly used to get a drink, he is called to scheme and spend energy and time in order to chase after God—as one teacher of addicts used to say “there’s no high like the Most High”. The LORD is a treasure beyond all our earthly addictions and lusts and desires. When He has captured our imaginations so that all our longings are centred on Him alone, then our lives will revolve around the fear of the LORD and the knowledge of God. What delights and wonders and treasures are in store for this one who pursues God, for He is infinitely glorious, infinitely wise, infinitely desirable, infinitely good.
O God of Wonders and Treasures beyond all imagining by Your Holy Spirit capture our thoughts and tune our desires so that Jesus Christ will be for us the Treasure of life and the sought after Reward of eternity. Triune God, forgive us our carnal lusts and our base desires. Forgive us for the times we have chased after the things of this world, things which are like dangling candy luring us to the mouth of the grave and left unpursued Your treasures of wisdom and understanding and knowledge. Renew in us the attentiveness necessary and the strength of pursuit which will empower us to go after Your wisdom with all vigor and life-long persistence. Amen.
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