Diligent Seekers
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must
believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6 NKJV
Much of the New Testament epistles are incorrectly believed to be written to unbelievers when they are written to Christians. Hebrews is an example of a biblical book that instructs mature Christians on how to live by faith how to live a God-pleasing life. While the first, most evident step in pleasing God is being rescued by faith in Christ’s redemptive work, it is the continual, active faith of a believer that pleases God in the daily practice of life.
Only believers are acceptable to God. We please God by being justified (initial salvation) and living a holy life (ongoing salvation). We can ONLY please God by the imputed righteousness of Christ, for “without faith, it is impossible to please Him.” However, after we have been rescued, we must please God by living by faith. Once we have trusted in Him, we are instructed to believe that He rewards those who seek Him. Having been rescued via justification by faith, believers must continue to trust Him by believing His Word, living by faith, and seeking His face daily with diligence.
As stated in the Bible, once we have trusted in God’s rescuing mercy through faith in Christ, we must also believe that “He rewards those who seek Him.” When a sinner believes, there is rejoicing in heaven, but we genuinely please God when we LIVE by faith. We delight Him when we are not affected by the difficult conditions of life. To please our Heavenly Father, we must LIVE by faith, not by sight.
Those who begin their Christian walk by faith frequently abandon their reliance on the reality of scripture. They lose focus on Jesus and start to mistrust God’s Word. They often become negligent in pursuing God, and some even abandon their first love. Some individuals resort to carnality and indulge in fleshly living. Some attempt to appease God by performing good deeds and worldly works. Others adopt legalism and seek God’s approval by performing acts of the law.
Christians who attempt to live in their strength or rely on their good acts do not please the Lord because they do not rely on His Word; faith is the evidence of things that are NOT seen. It is faith in God’s Word that pleases God. We please Him when we are saved, but we must continue to please Him throughout our Christian lives by believing His promises are true and that He rewards those who seek Him via faith.
Although our union with God is unbreakable once we are adopted into His family, our fellowship with Him can be severed if we abandon a life of faith in God and dependence on His Word in favor of self-reliance. God is aware that without Christ’s leadership and guidance, we will ultimately fail, for He stated, “Without Me, you can do nothing.” But all too often, we exhaust every possible option before admitting our incapacity and seeking His assistance.
Too frequently, we forget that those who faithfully seek God are blessed with sufficient grace to overcome life’s difficulties. Those who actively pursue Him bear the lovely fruit of the Spirit, maturing in grace and faith, pleasing our Heavenly Father. When we rest in His strength, then we believe it is sufficient. However, how often do we forego the total peace He promises because we put ourselves before our Savior or live according to what we see instead of what God says?
The more a Christian trusts God’s Word, believes everything He says, has faith in His promises and believes He is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek to know Him, the more they will grow in grace, mature in the faith, walk in Spirit and truth, and please Him. For those who have much, more will be given.
As we actively seek Him and rely on His Word, let us resolve to conduct our Christian lives pleasingly to the Lord. Let us keep our confidence in God and never question the authenticity of the gospel message, even when His truth is obscured from our view, or the reality of His Word does not correspond with our life experiences,… “because without faith it is impossible to satisfy Him.”
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, for it is impossible to please Him apart from saving faith and sanctifying faith. But let us never forget that God stated, “I AM everything you require, and I AM a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Me.”
Reflect
In what areas of your life do you lack diligence, and what are you willing to undertake to improve these areas? Be willing to do whatever the Holy Spirit leads you to do.
Prayer
Father in heaven, I know how quickly and readily I may shift from trusting You to doubting Your Word when things do not go as planned. I pray that, like Hebrews’ men and women of faith, my faith in You will not waver. Help me to seek You earnestly each day, for I know that I can please You only if Christ lives in and through me through faith. In Jesus’ name, I pray.
Upcoming Connect 21 Events
- Prayer 201 (Jan 25th @ 7 pm via Zoom)
- Saturday Morning Prayer (Jan 28th @ 9 am at Latimer Hall – The Way UMC)
- Sunday Morning Worship ( Jan 29th @ 10 am at River Ridge High School)