February 19

But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 4:29

This verse appears within Moses’ first major sermon to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land.  He pleads with them to follow God and His laws and what the result will be in doing so.  Moses reminds them that they are to be a people of God’s inheritance (vs 20) and they are not to forget the covenant God made with them at Sinai (vs 23).  Moses further tells the people that if they forget all of these things and “become corrupt and make any kind of idol, doing evil in the eyes of the Lord your God and arousing his anger” (vs 25), then they will quickly perish from the land, not live there long, and will be destroyed (vs 26).  

However, Moses also gives the Israelites much needed hope and restoration for when they fail and turn to other gods and idols.  That hope is found in verse 29.  “But if from there…” is a significant part of this verse.  No matter the lowest point of exile, suffering, and spiritual distance they would experience, the Israelites would not be “too far” from God’s reach.  Whether in a foreign (exiled) land or worshiping other gods (idols), the message of hope was one they needed to hear.

This message of hope and restoration is available for us today.  No matter how far we have strayed from God - seeking our own desires, chasing after other gods (idols), God will be found if we seek Him with all our heart and our soul.  This kind of turning back and seeking requires every part of us.  It is an all-in commitment to turning back to God and seeking Him.  It is surrendering our old ways.  When we do, we will find Him.  He is not some distant, hard-to-find, elusive God.  He desires to be in a relationship with us.  He desires hearts that are determined to follow Him and obey His commands.  God will always welcome us back.  God is accessible even in our lowest moments of life when our “heart and soul” search for Him is genuine, complete, and “all-in.”  We find a God who is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love and faithfulness.  

Father - You promise that if I seek You with all my heart and soul, I will find You.  Thank You for this promise.  You are a loving and forgiving Father who welcomes me back time and time again.  You are what I desire and long for more than anything else.  Forgive me when I fail.  Here’s my heart, Father, take and seal it for thy courts above.  In Your name we pray, Amen.