What are you seeking?

"Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them."
Jonah 2:8


Jesus brings to light what is really going on in the hearts of the Pharisees. Are we sometimes like them? 

"You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” And he continued,“You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”" 
Mark 7:8-9,13

“Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!” Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? 
Matthew 15:2-3 (NIV)


We all have traditions, habits & practices,  good and bad - we need to reflect on them often to see if they are pleasing to the Lord.


Traditions I’m guilty of holding onto - 

Christmas traditions, spending way too much money to please the ones I love 

Outward appearances - caring so much about them, that I neglect my inward self - putting on a front

Going into debt for so called “needs” & traditions.  Making myself and family happy despite the future problems that will occur due to being in debt. 



In Micah 6:16 - Israel is being cursed because they followed the statutes of Omri & practices of Ahab. 

“You have observed the statutes of Omri and all the practices of Ahab’s house;
you have followed their traditions.”

Some of Omri & Ahab’s practice was the merging of religions together. They were mergers of convenience and opportunity, driven by motives of power, peace and prosperity. - the opposite of seeking God’s kingdom first!  (https://sightedmoon.com/183/)

At first glance seeking peace &  prosperity sound like a good thing, but not when that is sought after more than God. Being tolerant and accepting of everything even those things that go against your spiritual convictions.

Don’t hold onto the things that the world tells you to hold onto. Hold onto the things of God. 

"Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them."
Jonah 2:8


If you feel pressured socially to do something - whether it be with gift giving, sports, holidays, credit card usage, believing and agreeing with people that are going against God…. You do not need to have this pressure on you and you are keeping yourself from God’s Lordship in your life. 

 Yes give gifts when you can, yes enjoy sports, yes enjoy life, but not when it directly goes against your convictions or causes more harm than good to yourself. 



Cling to God, not worthless idols

Seek God’s kingdom first, every thought every day, bring it before the Lord. 

Hold that desire in your hand and lay it before God and have Him show you if it is good, pure, blameless…..

If you bring it to God and see it for what it is, filth, envy, wanting for selfish gain, throw it away. You do not need to invite that into your life, the result will ultimately be destruction or a very hard lesson to have gone through to learn. 

Don’t let your thoughts, desires, traditions, keep you from God’s perfect will in your life. 

Seek God first and he will bless you. Don’t do things for God to be blessed though. The precursor of blessing is obedience to God, seeking God, honoring God. Seek him first, the good stuff will follow as you show yourself faithful to God.

If things aren’t going right in your life, and “your world” is crumbling around you it may be because you have kept yourself from seeking God first. You may be seeking your own desire first, and that is why you are suffering. 

Suffering however does bring us back to God, which may be why God is allowing you to suffer. He loves you and wants you back fully committed to Him. 

Don’t turn away from God’s love and grace in your life by following worthless desires. They may seem good up front, but if you are seeking them before God, you are definitely going about things in a backward manner which will not bring you what you ultimately desire: God’s peace & perfect will for you. 

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Romans 12:2 (NIV)

The ways of this world wreak havoc in our minds… renew your mind by God’s word, by His Spirit daily guiding you and showing you the way to truth. Trust in God’s way, not man’s way. 

A prayer to reflect on- 

Heavenly Father, Please forgive me for seeking my own will for my life, my own desires. Teach me how to seek you and your perfect will for my life. Teach me how to restrain myself, give me self-control to do your will and not my own. Renew my mind today- lead me in the way everlasting through your son Jesus. Amen. 



Updated 9/13/17 1:03 PM

Also important to note, don't get so stuck on doing things a certain way that you miss God's love & grace in your life. 

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