Going Hard After God
“… we would go hard after satisfaction in God, and go hard after God as delight, our spirit’s pleasure…. Christ as our supreme gain magnifies him, exalts him, worships him whether on the street or in the sanctuary.” – John Piper
It is all too easy to get our Christian walk of faith backwards. For decades a whole lot of Christians have placed their focus on the benefits of being a Christian and not so much on living our life to bring God glory. I am just as guilty as anyone.
Let’s be honest, God really does not line up with our logic. In fact, how he calls us to live is backwards from what we would think is right.
“You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I tell you, don’t resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” – Matthew 5:38-45 (CSB)
Notice It says to pray for, not against, those who persecute you. I know, it sounds crazy.
Jesus also said:
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it. For what will it benefit someone if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will anyone give in exchange for his life? – Matthew 16:24-26 (CSB)
We seek the benefits and are never satisfied. We do the same thing when we focus so hard on trying to find our calling. Perhaps if we spend more on our relationship with Christ (Prayer, Word, Community and Worship) our calling will find us.
It is also easy to fall into the trap where we think we have to pray the right words, believe enough or have enough faith but we are never satisfied. We seek the next church conference, revival or concert thinking that event will be the difference in our life. Nothing is wrong with these events; it only becomes an issue when we put too much value on them.
We find true satisfaction when we go hard to lay our life down and truly seek God first. This is difficult to live out but it is God himself through the Holy Spirit that gives us the strength. Let us seek God first and his Kingdom and all the satisfaction we need will come. As he changes us, his will becomes our desire and passion.
Let us not just run the race of faith for a participation medal but let’s run to win the race
Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. – 1 Corinthians 9:24 (CSB)
Let me know in the comments how you go hard after God.
John Piper quote is from his book, Expository Exultation: Christian Preaching as Worship
Photo by Braden Collum on Unsplash
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