SEEKERS AND EARNERS
“Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” Acts 11:17
Do seekers become earners by earning a merit badge of faith? Seekers - seek God and demonstrate their faith and love for God with action. Earners - try to earn a relationship with God by doing the work that pleases God. Examples in Acts 11 were circumcision and eating prescribed foods. An earner would do the works and then live with those who do the same works. Let’s look at two men, Cornelius a seeker, and Peter an earner.
Cornelius the seeker. He sought God and lived rightly with different people.
Peter the earner. He was circumcised and ate only the prescribed food. He also segregated away from seekers who did not do the works that pleased God like he did.
Cornelius the seeker had a vision from an angel to call Peter the earner.
Peter the earner has a vision that all food is acceptable and to go visit Cornelius. He takes six men with him to visit the outsider in contrast to Cornelius’ three. (Peter possibly thinks: I don’t want any trouble here.)
Cornelius the seeker tells Peter the earner about the angel and now his house is full of seekers.
Peter the earner gets ready for his biggest sermon since Pentecost - but he does not get to earn anything! God intervenes and gives the seekers the Holy Spirit. The seekers find God. They were not circumcised. They ate the wrong food.
God does not seem to be interested in cultural norms. As for us in the earner group, let’s not stand in God’s way. Our works to serve God should be founded on seeking Him through His Word and in our thoughts, prayers, and actions. But looking at Peter, Cornelius and us, it is wonderful that God is our greatest seeker! Paraphrasing Dr. Tony Evans, “It only takes a tiny mustard seed of faith to move mountains so it is not more faith we should be seeking but rather God Himself.” The faith merit badge’s first requirement then should be “seek Him."
Do seekers become earners by earning a merit badge of faith? Seekers - seek God and demonstrate their faith and love for God with action. Earners - try to earn a relationship with God by doing the work that pleases God. Examples in Acts 11 were circumcision and eating prescribed foods. An earner would do the works and then live with those who do the same works. Let’s look at two men, Cornelius a seeker, and Peter an earner.
Cornelius the seeker. He sought God and lived rightly with different people.
Peter the earner. He was circumcised and ate only the prescribed food. He also segregated away from seekers who did not do the works that pleased God like he did.
Cornelius the seeker had a vision from an angel to call Peter the earner.
Peter the earner has a vision that all food is acceptable and to go visit Cornelius. He takes six men with him to visit the outsider in contrast to Cornelius’ three. (Peter possibly thinks: I don’t want any trouble here.)
Cornelius the seeker tells Peter the earner about the angel and now his house is full of seekers.
Peter the earner gets ready for his biggest sermon since Pentecost - but he does not get to earn anything! God intervenes and gives the seekers the Holy Spirit. The seekers find God. They were not circumcised. They ate the wrong food.
God does not seem to be interested in cultural norms. As for us in the earner group, let’s not stand in God’s way. Our works to serve God should be founded on seeking Him through His Word and in our thoughts, prayers, and actions. But looking at Peter, Cornelius and us, it is wonderful that God is our greatest seeker! Paraphrasing Dr. Tony Evans, “It only takes a tiny mustard seed of faith to move mountains so it is not more faith we should be seeking but rather God Himself.” The faith merit badge’s first requirement then should be “seek Him."
by Steve Sagué, Elder
Posted in Read Through the Bible
Recent
Archive
2024
January
A FRESH STARTPOSTURE OF FAITHHEAVENLY BODIESTHE BLESSINGS OF THE RIGHTEOUSI AM WILLINGGOD'S SOVEREIGNTY OVERRULES MAN'S DYSFUNCTIONJESUS IS LORD OF THE SABBATHLIVE OUT WELL THE TEACHINGS OF JESUSHOLD IT CLOSEOPEN MY EYESWHO DO PEOPLE SAY WE ARE?NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GODWHAT IS YOUR IDOL?GOD'S CHOOSING
February
March
2023
January
WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER?RESOLVING CONFLICT AND DEALING WITH EVILWHAT KIND OF FRUIT DO YOU HAVE?GOD IS PROUD OF HIS SONPEACE IS A FUNCTION OF FOCUSTHE HEALING POWER OF JESUSGOD CALLS YOU BY NAMESMOKE AND MIRRORSBE A LIGHTWISE WORDSEXODUSCHOOSING THE RIGHT PATHGOD SEES AND HEARSWHO IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM?WARNING AGAINST FOLLY
February
March
HE HAS A PLAN FOR YOUTHE PLACE OF COMFORT AND SAFETYIT'S THE LITTLE THINGSBE ALERTMY GOD IS NOT TOO SMALLWHEN TO SPEAK AND WHEN NOT TO SPEAKGOD IS GRACIOUS TO USKEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUTSTAND STRONG FOR YOUR FAITHOUR HOPEDO I DO WHAT THE LORD ASKS OF ME?DON'T BE A SCHEMERA TREASURE HUNTLISTEN AND FOLLOWWORDS OF COMFORT OR WARNINGTHE POSSESSOR OCCUPIES AND FILLS THE POSSESSEDUNDIVIDED LOYALTY TO GODONE CONCESSION STAND
April
OUR GOD IS HOLY AND JUSTA CAUSE FOR OBEDIENCETELL THE COMING GENERATIONTHE PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOLSHINE YOUR FACE UPON USLISTEN UP!CHECK WITH GOD FIRST - HE KNOWS MORE THAN WE DOPSALM 86THAT IS ENOUGH SAIDDO YOU REMEMBER?TRANSITIONSSERVE ONE ANOTHERPROVERBS“Insignificant Does Not Equal Insignificant” (Judges 6)
May
JESUS IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU!FINISHING WELLARE YOU THE TEACHER OF ISRAEL AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS?FORGETTING GOD IS DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTHREPENTANCE BRINGS MERCYGOD'S SOVEREIGN TIMING IS ALWAYS RIGHTWHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?A GODLY FATHERJESUS CARES FOR US - HE'S OUR SHEPHERDWHO DO YOU LISTEN TO?CARELESS SPEECHCONTINUE TO SERVE GODUNDIGNIFIED, HUMILIATED, AND GLORIFYING GOD!CLEAR PROMISES
No Comments