Seeking the Lord: Finding God’s Will for Life
Can people seek for God and find Him and His will for our lives? What about people in Africa and other places where the gospel is little known? What must we do to seek for God? What about the attitude of our hearts? Must we believe in God and study the Bible? How important is obedience?
Lassie Come Home is a classic story about a dog who becomes lost; but because of her devotion to a boy, she overcomes many obstacles to return home. Many books and movies have been based on similar themes. The Bible is also a story about searching for things that are lost.
Scripture states that God seeks lost souls to come to Him.
Luke 15:3-6 – Jesus is like a shepherd seeking a lost sheep. He finds it and returns rejoicing.
Revelation 3:20 – Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. God seeks men by providing the means for us to be saved from sin. Then He sends His word to invite all men to come to Him for forgiveness.
Scripture also teaches the importance of people seeking for God.
Some people think that there is little or nothing people can do to find God and His will. Some teach unconditional election or predestination meaning that God chooses whomever He wants to save, then He brings them to salvation regardless of their will or choice. So, either God finds you or you will simply be lost. But there is nothing you can do to find God. Other people wonder about people where the gospel is little known. “How can people in dark Africa learn the truth and be saved?” Is God fair to condemn those who never heard the gospel? Some members of the church wonder how they can be sure they have found the truth. Some seem to think that whether or not we learn the truth is just a matter of chance: a roll of the dice. Some people are fortunate and happen across the truth, but others are not. In this study, let us consider what the Bible says about seeking God and His will.
We Should Seek to Know God’s Will.
1 Chronicles 28:8,9 – Solomon was instructed to carefully seek out God’s commands. If he would seek God, God would be found by him. Psalm 119:10,11,45 – The psalmist sought God, seeking His precepts, that he might not sin against Him. So, seeking God includes seeking to know His will so we can obey it. God has made His will know in the Scriptures. They provide us to every good work (2 Timothy 3:16,17). God wants this message taught to everyone (Mark 16:15,16; 1 Timothy 2:4). So, we can know the truth if we are willing to seek it by studying and learning the Scriptures. People all over the world can find God’s will, but they must be willing to seek it. But seeking God involves more than this. (Matthew 5:6; Proverbs 2:1-6)
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