Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore. Psalm 105:4
It is no secret that I like to run. As I am getting older, I do run less often than I used to, but I still enjoy it. After running several marathons, and many races in between, I can honestly say that, each time, I prepared myself for running before I went out to run. I put on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. I lace up a pair of running shoes, and I go out to run. Not once in all my years of running have I decided to go run five miles in a suit. I have never decided to strap on my soccer cleats or dress shoes to run down the road. I have never slid into a pair of flippers and goggles to jog down the road, and I think it is pretty safe to say that I never will. If I am going to run down the road, then I always prepare to run down the road.
In 1 Chronicles 22, in King David’s charge
to his son Solomon to build a magnificent temple for God, he admonished him to
“set [his] heart and [his] soul to seek the Lord [his] God.” God had a very
important job laid out for Solomon that only he was able to accomplish. As much
as David had wanted to build the temple for God, only Solomon was suited for
that work. So David told Solomon how important it was to prepare himself for
the work that God had planned for him to do. As a young man, you must do the
same thing if you are to serve God with your life. You must prepare yourself to
seek the Lord and serve Him. It seems like that would be an obvious conclusion
to someone who wanted to serve God, yet many young people are not preparing
themselves to serve God. If you want to serve God with your life, then you
cannot prepare for it by serving the world. Dressing and talking like the world
are not going to help you do what God has called you to do. Listening to the
world’s music and watching the world’s television and movies are not going to
move you closer toward what God wants you to become. Hanging out with those who
are part of the world will not prepare your heart to serve your God. Only a
specific setting-apart of your life to serve God will prepare you to follow His
will.
You would think me foolish if you saw me
running down the road in a tie and dress pants, soaking wet to the bone from
sweat, doing a workout. You would find it ridiculous if you saw me jogging in a
pair of flippers and goggles. Yet, does it not seem ridiculous to see a young
man who says he wants to follow God with his life following after the things of
the world? You must take the advice of David to Solomon and set your heart to
seek the Lord if you plan to serve him with your life.
Quote of the day: “To do the will of God is the greatest achievement.” –
George Truett
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