S)"18 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth."
Psalm 145:18 (NASB)
O) First, God is actually seeking relationship with every person. So, when we call on Him, He is already near. He is ready to help, ready to save, at the first opportunity. Second, that opportunity presents itself to Him when we call upon Him in truth. See, a lot of people "seek" God, or ask for His help, but they aren't seeking Him. In truth, they're seeking what He can give them. Now, granted, this can get pulled over into a discussion of the philosophy of altruism, but the Bible already addresses that. In 1 John 4:19, the Bible tells us that, "We love because He first loved us." So, at least in our relationship with God, we have no selfless act - at least not at first. We can only love at all because He first loved us. Having said that, when we seek Him, and not just what He can do for us, that is when we can fully trust that He will save, that He is near when we call upon him in truth.
A) One of the best ways for me to love God for who He is, and not just what He can do for me, is to seek Him when I'm not actually asking Him for anything. It's easy to remember to pray with regularity when you have a crisis hanging over your head. It's a lot more meaningful to pray regularly without asking for anything. Again, don't throw me a #philosophyjuke (like a #JesusJuke, but using philosophy); I realize that I have long-term interests in mind also, but that's in addition to my desire to simply spend time with God. It's like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego said to king Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 3:18, even if God chooses not to save me from a struggle, He is still worthy of my devotion.
P) Father, I'm committing all of my devotion to You, God, regardless of anything You might ever do for, or against me. Like Job famously said, You give and take away, Lord; it's not my place to choose that Your blessings are good, but when You allow struggle, trials, tribulations, even failures, that You are suddenly not good. I will not allow our relationship to be a fair-weather friendship, Lord. Holy Spirit, convict me when when I have been selfish in our relationship. Draw me in for times of quiet, and times of celebration, in times of obvious blessings, and in times of difficulties. I will take Your goodness, God, no matter how it looks to me. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
P) Father, I'm committing all of my devotion to You, God, regardless of anything You might ever do for, or against me. Like Job famously said, You give and take away, Lord; it's not my place to choose that Your blessings are good, but when You allow struggle, trials, tribulations, even failures, that You are suddenly not good. I will not allow our relationship to be a fair-weather friendship, Lord. Holy Spirit, convict me when when I have been selfish in our relationship. Draw me in for times of quiet, and times of celebration, in times of obvious blessings, and in times of difficulties. I will take Your goodness, God, no matter how it looks to me. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
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