Prov 8:17 [ESV] I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.

We have three particular families that we are very close friends with in Sydney. We all get together regularly and have dinner, and sometimes communion. We have all of us gone through massive challenges within our own families at times – businesses have been lost, marriages have had struggles, careers have faltered and transformed, children have had dramas and setbacks. And financial and health problems have come our way. We are not coming together from a place of constant comfort and success. Rather each family in its own way is constantly seeking God’s presence.

We so love our times together – we tell stories, catch up, laugh, cry and sledge each other mercilessly. We lean into each other, learn from each other and pray with and for each other. We are lost in each other’s company, and nothing else exists as we gather. We are in fact like one family for those times, all talking and all listening with one heart. We diligently seek and plan to have these times together. 

I personally love these moments, having come from a dysfunctional family, – they bring life, they deepen our trust and our friendships, and they continually remind us of who it is we all are seeking and serving together. We have such a gratitude to God, and such a joy for each other. It’s a beautiful micro-reflection of this scripture.

KNOWLEDGE – in life there is an ongoing search for all of us all the time. We can be searching for that elusive first house, the promotion, the woman of our dreams, the opportunity to take the limelight, or the chance to win at something. If we step back for a few moments and audit our life into a mind map of our activities we will soon see what our life is focused on – is it comfort, rest, peace, family, leisure?

In this scripture today there is a fundamental issue brought to the forefront. If we want to actually be one of the people who “find God” (he has already “found us”) – then activity is required, emotional energy is needed, spiritual discipline is essential, and physical effort necessary. Our thoughts lead our actions – so if we are constantly thinking about God and his word, there is a good chance that our life is aimed in that direction as well. One of the key principles I see here is one of “friendship” – the seeking is not mechanical, intellectual, or self-centred. We are looking to have time in the company of our best friend in the universe.

UNDERSTANDING

Let’s pick one word from this verse to look closer at and see if that can help us gain a deeper insight into how God would love us to live?

The word used for “seek” is pronounced as “sahar” in Hebrew, and carries the meaning of, to earnestly search for someone or something. In the LXX the Koine Greek word is “ζητούντες” [zetountes] which appears 117 times in the New Testament, always in the Gospels, and translated to English as “search; sought; seek; looking, and obtain”. 

WISDOM 

What is coming between me and God right now, and our friendship?

STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Restorative as a Gallup Strength moves everything out of the way to get to the best desired result, and does not give up easily. In your desire for growth and development, be careful not see problems where there are none.

Allan’s Unauthorised Version – I love with a covenantal loyalty those who love me as a close friend, and those who earnestly search for me, discover, uncover and find me.

I love those – I love with a covenantal loyalty

who love me – love me like a friend

and those who seek me diligently – and those who earnestly search for me

find me – discover, uncover and find me.

PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Help me to continue search for you and loving you each and every day.

To chat to me as a professional coach/mentor – allan@theallankey.com

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