September 11, 2025 -- Proverbs 11:27 -- Ask yourself, "What am I pursuing?"

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Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,
but evil comes to him who searches for it.
Proverbs 11:27 ESV
 
What harm can there be in doom scrolling? What harm could there be in that second, lustful look? What harm in hanging out with folks who you know are a bad influence, but are fun to be around? What is the problem with video gaming? Why does it matter if my girlfriend isn’t a Christian, I mean, she says she’s spiritual? I know my body is a temple, but what is the big deal about being overweight, or not really counting calories? Why is shopping and how I spend my money such a big deal? When I have free time, why can’t I spend it the way I want doing what I want to do?
 
No doubt many of the above questions don’t touch on any area of your life where there might be an issue of obedience. I’ll hazard a guess though; there are one or two that hit home. The passage in focus today speaks of a diligent search for good versus the fact that evil approaches freely, ingratiating itself into the life of the one who is not persistently seeking what is good.
 
Evil is lurking nearby. The devil is organized in his attacks. He is patient, crouching at the door seeking an opportunity to attack you unaware. Your mind and your desires are not naturally inclined toward God. You are naturally inclined toward sin. Even the Christian who is devoted to Jesus realizes how persistent and sinister evil is. However, the faithful follower of Jesus realizes that to fight the sin lingering within, he must actively seek good. The one who claims to be spiritual, a devotee to God the Almighty, must intentionally when things are going well and with renewed vigor and focus, especially when things seem to be going badly, diligently seek God.
 
Each way of living yields a result. The one who is not actively pursuing God, even if all he claims is neutrality, that person will be caught up in the evil that approaches him. Evil is looking for any invitation, any small crack of inattention in one’s determination to pursue God. However, the one who is patiently, actively, daily planning to do good and seek for God has this great promise: he is in fact seeking God. The promise of the New Testament is that God is the source of every good (James 1:17). The search for good yields the rich reward of fullness of life with God the Father, through the blessed work of Jesus Christ, and this holy feedback loop is empowered by the Holy Spirit Who lives in you. Dear reader, what are you seeking?
 
Faithful Father, source of all good, in the strength of the Holy Spirit living in me, increase my desire to plan and execute the decision of seeking good. As You have so graciously promised, let me truly seek You with all my heart, soul, and mind. Amen.
 
https://youtu.be/4-GM9w6IA2M?si=k24-86ubbPT0gfvR “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us”
 

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