For Which Has Christ Jesus Taken Hold of You?

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 

Philippians 3:12 NIV

There is a reason Christ took hold of each of us. I think of my wife and kids. I think of Mr. D at work who I ended up praying with about his brother and his brother got better. I think of each person who, through a God-incidence, I ended up praying with or just mentioning God to them. I think of Mr. C at work whose daughter has had countless physical issues. At first he was reluctant when I told him I would pray for his daughter, but, after a year, he asked me to. I'm sure there is more but those are what come to mind. 

For which reasons has God in Christ Jesus took hold of you? 

God Wants You to Find Him.

God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 

Acts 17:27 NIV

You want to know what God's plan is? Do you want to know what God really desires? He wants us to seek him, to reach out to him and to find him. It's like a parent playing hide and seek with their little child and hiding in such a way that they'll be found. That's what God has set up this world to be like. 

The good news is that he is not far from any one of us. How far away is he? He is a seek away. What's a seek? It's the time, it's the effort involved in turning to him. Again, the good news is that if you seek him, he will find you. 

So, where are you? Or maybe we should ask, what are you seeking? Do you need to turn, to repent, from what you are seeking and seek God? Seek God. He wants you to find him. 

DON'T GO, COME

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

James 4:7-8 (NIV)

If you're looking for a warm fuzzy, the book of James may not be the place for you. If you want to really get down to what you need to deal with in order for your relationship with Jesus to be real, it's a definite must read. 

In these verses he reminds us to submit to God rather than trying to wrestle everything we want from the universe. Striving verses submitting. Striving is not God's way, it is the devil's way of obtaining not just things but satisfaction and fulfillment. 

In contrast to striving is seeking God. James says to come near to God and he will come near to you. Do you notice that he doesn't say go, he says come? It is more of an invitation than a command. For all his harshness James is pointing out that God is calling us. Remember the parable of the lost son (or the prodigal son)? The younger son went back to the father and the father ran to him (this was totally against the culture of the day, men don't run). The father also went out to the older son. This is God. He calls us. He seeks us. 

Come to God. Come near to God. Hear his call to you...

Father, thank you for calling me to you. Praise be to you in us today!