The Competition

God is contending for the affection of His people.  He loves us dearly, deeply, passionately, and He longs for us to love Him with the same fervor.  But we love the world.  We count everything except Him to be "gain."  We mouth the words from time to time, but do not yet truly mean it when we say, "I count all things lost for the surpassing value of knowing Him.

What you value, you spend time with.  You treat what you value with respect and tenderness.  What you value, you say nice things about (in other words, you praise). So think about: what is worthy of being valued by you?  What is more worthy of being valued by you than He is?  All things are eclipsed by the surpassing value of know Him!



"Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he that comes to God must faith that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."  First believe that He is.  But also, believe that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.  The implication is, He wants to be sought.  He is willing to be found - to the point that He won't hide in obscurity.  Seek Him and He will reward that effort.

We are talking about a God who has a song that He likes to sing about you (see Zephaniah 3:17)!  He created you for fellowship with Himself.  He desires that everything about your life be to the praise of the glory of His grace.  He wants you to enjoy Him.  He is not trying to make you miserable and take all the pleasure out of your life.  He is simply trying to help you stop settling for the meager pleasures this world offers, when you could have the much greater pleasure and joy in life that you can find only in Him!