Seek The Lord Your God

Deuteronomy 4:29-31

“But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and obey him. 31 For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant…”

In the verses preceding today’s passage (verses 21-28), Moses is speaking to the Israelites not long before they are to enter into the promised land without him. He cautions them not to forget the covenant the Lord had made with them, and warned them not to “make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the Lord your God has forbidden” (verse 23).

Then, as if Moses knew they would not obey, he warns them of the severe consequences of disobedience – they would be scattered among the nations and only a few of them survive. But even with this disturbing truth, he reminds them of the goodness, faithfulness and mercy of God. If, among those who survive, there are those who will again seek Him with all their hearts, God will be merciful and receive them when they return to Him.

Even though I knew the Lord in my teens, my many idols and disobedience over the next forty years took me far from Him. How very grateful I am that when I began to seek Him with all my heart He lovingly received me. Have you experienced this too?

TODAY’S CHALLENGE:

Tell the Father how very grateful you are that He lovingly accepts you in spite of how far, or how long, you were away. Seek Him today with all your heart and soul.

Dive Deeper: Study Deuteronomy 4.