Are you hungry for the Truth and the Word of God? God wants us, His children, to seek Him with all our hearts. He said, “But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.” (Matthew 6:33)
In Amos 5:4 He goes one step further and says, “For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: Seek Me [inquire for and of Me and require Me as you require food] and you shall live!”
One Gospel Many Versions
The truth is that today there are many versions of the Gospel being taught today. Some focus on the law, others on grace. There are also those who change the interpretation of Bible verses to suit their own philosophies. Some dilute the Word of God so much, their teachings sound like new age religions of the world. Many ‘Christians’ today live contrary to the Gospel and are not hungry for the Truth. Some are ‘namesake’ Christians while some are genuine who uphold God’s standards.
Mark 3:25 says, “And if a house is divided (split into factions and rebelling) against itself, that house will not be able to last.” This could be said about the Body of Christ. They disagree on important doctrines and matters of faith.
Uphold God’s Standards
Jesus said about the Pharisees of His time in Mark 7:8-9, “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!” We need to take God’s Word seriously and seek Him to know what He is saying. If we don’t, we can get carried away by teachings that are contrary to what Jesus said. This is very serious as it can rob us of our place in heaven eternally.
In Matthew 25:12 Jesus says to some believers, “‘I solemnly declare to you, I do not know you [I am not acquainted with you].’ Jesus says, ‘Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name? And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].'” (Matthew 7:22-23)
A House Divided
For this reason, it is important that every believer seeks the Lord with all their hearts. In John 10:27, Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” And in Isaiah 54:13, God promises that He Himself will teach His children, “All your [spiritual] children shall be disciples [taught by the Lord and obedient to His will].”
Be Mature Christians, Hungry For Truth
Jesus said, “You, therefore, must be perfect [growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) Imagine standing before God on the Day of Judgment and saying, “Lord I didn’t know!”, or “Lord they didn’t teach me about this!”
This is why it is good to read the Bible. It is good to know for oneself what the Lord has said in His Word. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the Truth so you won’t be ashamed on the day you stand before God.
Hungry: Revere God and Obey Him
Paul says in Philippians 2:12, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” The Amplified Bible gives us the meaning of “fear and trembling” as “self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ.”
Finally, Ephesians 5:27 reminds us that Jesus wants to “present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things [that she might be holy and faultless].” May we hear and heed what Jesus is saying to us personally and to the churches today.