By Pastor Dr. Ronnie W. Wolfe
To pant
means either to huff and puff due to exhaustion or to have a strong
desire after something. The first meaning comes close to its usage in
Psalms 38:10 My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me. The second meaning comes close to what we read in Psalms 42:1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
It is this second meaning that interests us in our verse for today. I know all believers love God and trust him, but do they pant after him and his commandments? His commandments, after all, are not grievous (1 John 5:3). They are to be longed after, pursued, and received with joy.
Many want what God has but do not want God himself. They seek him only when a problem comes or when heartaches linger so that God will hopefully extinguish the hurt; but God is more than a Comforter (which he is), and we need to long after God for who he is and what he has done for us, not simply for what we can receive from him.
The Hebrew word for pant can also mean "to grasp." The only way we can receive God's real word is to grasp it. That is what this verse is about: Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: James says in his book in chapter 4 verse 2, "ye have not, because ye ask not."
So ask for the old paths (Jer. 6:16). Seek the Lord while he may be found (Isaiah 55:6). Once you have found it, keep the word (Luke 11:28). You will never see death (John 8:51). In keeping God's commandments you are showing your love for him (John 14:15).
It is this second meaning that interests us in our verse for today. I know all believers love God and trust him, but do they pant after him and his commandments? His commandments, after all, are not grievous (1 John 5:3). They are to be longed after, pursued, and received with joy.
Many want what God has but do not want God himself. They seek him only when a problem comes or when heartaches linger so that God will hopefully extinguish the hurt; but God is more than a Comforter (which he is), and we need to long after God for who he is and what he has done for us, not simply for what we can receive from him.
The Hebrew word for pant can also mean "to grasp." The only way we can receive God's real word is to grasp it. That is what this verse is about: Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: James says in his book in chapter 4 verse 2, "ye have not, because ye ask not."
So ask for the old paths (Jer. 6:16). Seek the Lord while he may be found (Isaiah 55:6). Once you have found it, keep the word (Luke 11:28). You will never see death (John 8:51). In keeping God's commandments you are showing your love for him (John 14:15).
No comments:
Post a Comment