King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Seek The Lord Thy God
Date: Thursday October 27, 2011
Chapters: Luke 14-16
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://imfollowingjesus.com/bible-october-27

Hello My Friend,

“Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee. For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God...And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you. And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.” - Deuteronomy 4:23,24,27-31.

There is nothing more exciting than to receive Christ as your Savior, it is as if all the weight of burdens, shame, and guilt melt off your shoulders, and for a time you feel as though you can conquer the world. It does not take long though before Satan shows up and tries to steal your thunder, bringing back those burdens and then some. The key to overcoming Satan is reminding yourself that God is always with you, you are not perfect, you are going to mess up, but God is always with you. Why can't you see Him? We lose sight of God when other things take first place before Him, things such as people, jobs, hobbies, addictions. Anything that takes priority in our lives over God becomes our god, and while God never leaves us, He does allow us to fall. However, if you have accepted Christ as your Savior, God is still and always will be with you, even if you walked away from Him twenty-five years ago. The key to seeing Him again, seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

Most people long for a relationship with God, but the number one reason why most people fall away from Him is not wanting to give up the life they have, it is a big decision to give up everything we come to know and love for a God that we have not known. However, if we never take that step we can never know the amazing life awaiting us by putting God first. Jesus explains this further, “And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish...So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” - Luke 14:25-30,33.

A disciple is someone who follows Christ and allows Him to reign in their lives, this does not mean that we are to literally hate everyone we come to know and love because we follow Him, it means that we are to love God so much that everything else in life seems insignificant. While all these people will let you down at one point in your life, God is always with you, even when you feel that He has let you down. The great thing about allowing Christ to reign in our lives is that He replaces the not so good things with good things, one step at a time, and before you know it a rewarding and fulfilling life is lived. “And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.” -Luke 12:29-31.

So, you were saved and have gotten away from God? Think you are no longer saved or that God has cast you out? Think again. You are still saved and God loves you all the same. God is always with you, even if you forsake Him, He just stands back and waits for you to come to Him first. Jesus explains this further in a parable, “And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”- Luke 15:11-14,17-20.

Many people fall away from God for a season, but God does know who are truly His. I was one of those who left Him for a season, I went my own way, thinking I was missing something, I suffered and was ashamed of all that I allowed myself to get into, but I humbled myself, sought God, and He helped me out of every one of those dumb situations that I had gotten myself into. God has given me a richer, more fuller life, with Him in it and He will do the same for anyone who seeks Him. Jesus said, “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:27-30. Only when we give our burdens to Him, even when we create them ourselves can we find rest for our souls and even our minds and bodies too.

Those that do not seek God through Christ will have a rude awakening, Jesus gives us an interesting glimpse of a saved and damned soul through a poor man named Lazarus who believed and a rich man who thought his money could buy him everything. “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.” - Luke 16:22-28.

If those who died before you could talk to you they will tell you either how wonderful heaven is or how horrible hell is. No one has to burn in torment for eternity, anyone can be saved, but they have to seek Him first. Once saved, always saved, but you must be saved. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him...For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous...That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” - Romans 5:8,9,17-19,21.

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
Lord, thank You for sending Your Son , Jesus to save me, I know that I am not perfect, I know that I am going to mess up again, but I also know that You are always with me and that You will never forsake me. If I get in a bind all I have to do is seek You with all my heart and I know I will find You right there where You have been all along. Lord, watch over me, guide me, and be with me in all that I do, keep me in the love of Christ, who is my only rest, strength, and hope for my burdens. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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