Blessed Are Those Who Seek Him In Faith

Prayer-Soldier

Blessed Are Those Who Seek Him In Faith

Scripture:

Thus says the Lord: Keep judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my justice to be revealed.

And the children of the stranger that adhere to the Lord, to worship him, and to love his name, to be his servants: every one that keeps the sabbath from profaning it, and that holds fast my covenant: I will bring them into my holy mount, and will make them joyful in my house of prayer: their holocausts, and their victims shall please me upon my altar: for my house shall be called the house of prayer, for all nations.
(Isaiah 56:1, 6-7)

For I say to you, Gentiles: As long indeed as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I will honor my ministry, if, by any means, I may provoke to emulation them who are my flesh and may save some of them. For if the loss of them be the reconciliation of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

For the gifts and the calling of God are without repentance. For as you also in times past did not believe God, but now have obtained mercy, through their unbelief: So these also now have not believed, for your mercy, that they also may obtain mercy. For God has concluded all in unbelief, that he may have mercy on all.
(Romans 11:13-15, 29-32)

And Jesus went from thence, and retired into the coast of Tyre and Sidon. And behold a woman of Canaan who came out of those coasts, crying out, said to him: Have mercy on me, O Lord, you son of David: my daughter is grievously troubled by a devil. Who answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying: Send her away, for she cries after us: And he answering, said: I was not sent but to the sheep, that are lost of the house of Israel. But she came and adored him, saying: Lord, help me. Who answering, said: It is not good to take the bread of the children, and to cast it to the dogs. But she said: Yea, Lord; for the whelps also eat of the crumbs that fall from the table of their masters. Then Jesus answering, said to her: O woman, great is your faith: be it done to you as you will: and her daughter was cured from that hour.
( Matthew 15:21-28 )

Reflection:

All the children of His creation may trace their ancestry to the garden where God formed the first man and first woman. Although each individual born of woman is unique, we all share in ancestry. Though God desires that families are the nucleus of communities and nations, mother and father raising their children to understand the blessings of love for God and one another, so many fail His expectation. The stories of scripture reveal but only a few of the instances where families, communities, and nations have chosen ways other than that of their Creator. Over and over we see the sorrows and miseries brought forth as so many of the children of His creation turn away from Him.

Some are tempted to believe that only they are supreme, for whatever attribute they choose; but if we look back upon the flow of history, God shows no partiality (Deuteronomy 10:17-19, Romans 2:11). His expectation of us is obedience (1 Samuel 15:22). No matter the land from which we come or the race of our blood, what God desires of the children of His creation is obedience to His commandments of love. (Deuteronomy 7:12, Matthew 22:36-40) Blessed are those who enter His house, who lift up their hearts in prayer, and who approach Him with a contrite heart for their failings in what they have done and failed to do; for He is a loving God who desires not to condemn His creation for their failings, but to offer them salvation for their repentance. ( 2 Samuel 12:13, Wisdom 11:23, 12:19, John 3:16-19, Acts 2:38 )

Through His angles and His prophets, indeed, through His only begotten Son, God calls to all the children of His creation to come to Him, to learn His ways, to love Him and one another so that all might share in His blessings, the blessings of grace, mercy and love. The hope for all comes through the One who never failed, who lived in obedience as a demonstration of love and the power which may be shared through it; a power which conquers both death and sin. Blessed are those who hear His Word and allow their hearts to turn to Him, for His mercy shall be theirs. ( Acts 2:38 )

If one is without faith, they will not easily hear His call, but if even the smallest seed of faith is planted within the heart, what grows from it shall lead to salvation, for it is through faith and the persistence in faith in Him by which we may see the path to which God calls to us to follow. If we feel any confusion, then, let us turn to Him in prayer and ask that He will guide us so we might truly know our faith and might live according to His ways so that salvation may be ours. (Revelation 7:9-17)

God may test us as to our sincerity. God may challenge us in how we choose to respond to the world. God may probe what we harbor in our heart, but our belief shall not be revealed only by what we speak, but also by what we do. (Matthew 7:21-27, 25:31-46) If He sees sorrow in our hearts for what we have done against Him and one another, He will grant us mercy. If we turn to Him with a repentant heart, He will embrace us. (Luke 18:9-14) His love is strength for those who love. Let us, then, turn to Him with conviction of faith, let us learn the blessings of His Word, and let us share in the virtues of love.

Questions for further reflection:

In what ways might we become servants to our Lord?

In what ways may we seek His mercy?

In what ways do we demonstrate the strength of our faith in Him?

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier