a l i v e & a w a k e

Just was hit with news today about a guy -Jermaine Malcolm who was stabbed to death at my old work area in Meadowvale. I had built a relationship with Jermaine in the drop-in days and the last I saw him, he was aspiring to make a difference in the music world by being a positive role model.

Seek – To pursue, eagerly watch for in a progressive and intentional way

Seeking and dissatisfaction have a lot in common in my mind. Before the fall I believe Adam sought after deeper knowledge of God. Since the fall the ability to seek has not decreased or increased but has sought out other things than God. Again this is my belief but it makes sense.

It makes sense because how else can we explain the growth, development, and evolution of humanity. Some call this ‘seeking’, dissatisfaction. If that title sticks better with you, than I think it is one of the greatest gifts God ever gave us than. If we weren’t dissatisfied/seeking than there would be no way we would ever have a relationship with God.  The ability to seek is God given. In fact it is the work of the Holy Spirit for us to seek. Even if people are seeking out the things that are not of God, they are better off than those who wouldn’t even seek (apathetic).

When someone is seeking after the riches of this world, substances, fame, relationships or whatever they may be drawn to, they may not appear to be seeking God but they really are, they just have been distracted in their search for the seemingly more fulfilling answer. That search will exhaust and another will replace it until it comes solely back to Jesus. Those who aren’t even seeking have no chance to encounter God (or maybe they don’t show evidence of His work drawing depending on your bent of predestination).

Do a study sometime on the word ‘seek’ in the Bible. There are numerous references. It is littered with the concept that one of the most significant aspects to spiritual growth in humanity is seeking. The next time you find yourself desiring or dissatisfied or seeking, thank God for His work in you. Ask what you should be seeking for in Him.

See- to visually absorb and discern, to gaze upon something unveiled, to observe, witness or understand and acknowledge.

For those who can we take for granted our ability to see. Seeing spiritually is no different. When we see an act of God; a moment of truth, someone assisting someone else, an encouraging spoken word, etc we minimize that goodness to common sense or normal. By doing that we blind ourselves to seeing that those moments are nothing short of a miracle from God who is revealing Himself or character. The ability to see is similar to seeking –it is from God and God only.

It is possible to seek and seek and never clearly see. Sight was not given to every blind man Jesus encountered although it would be safe to say all blind wanted and sought after sight. We may seek and we may even see, but pass over the moment like we deserved it or say it’s normal. We miss out because we don’t really see- not only have our eyes receive input but for our consciousness to acknowledge the moment of God’s character.

The truth is God is working everywhere from strip houses to picturesque nature scenes, God is present and waiting to be seen. We have lost the art of seeing and being in places or consciousness to see Him. This is a constant feeding to our souls present in every waking moment of our lives. Just waiting for us to say “Ah, I see you God!, or Thank you God for revealing yourself to me!”

That is the role of Christ followers is to be the ones who cultivate the presence of God in any given moment- to celebrate.

Celebrate –with reverence, with mouth, with a responding life. To respond with enthusiasm, reverence and acknowledgement to the act or circumstance given. To honor and bring glory to someone or something with body, mind, and soul.

Let’s face it, we are built to celebrate. Most people think of times of celebration reserved for an event that involves, planning, a guest list, the right party gear and/ or an occasion that has significance of anniversaries, birthdays or achievement markers. I would say those types of celebration are a small part of the celebration we are built for. I would say we are to have a lifestyle of celebration. Everyday and every moment contains a celebration potential. Whether we see it or not does not change that potential. It’s a perspective of anticipation, understanding the ever presence of God and the enjoyment of life for all it’s good and bad. This is what I think it means when Jesus says He came to give ‘life to the fullest’ –John 10:10.     We do not have the discipline or the clear spiritual receptor to understand this ongoing miracle all the time. We only catch glimpses of the moment.

So what does that look like? Praise and celebration is done with your mouth, your heart and your actions. Each scenario is different. It could be saying ‘thank you’ or responding through giving something (offering) or serving because you become actively involved in the thing that your worship.

Let me try to bring all three into practical situations;

You are sitting in a service on Sunday desiring and praying to hear from God in a current issue that you need answers to (Seek). The pastor says a verse from the Bible that applies to you and you see that was the act of God hearing your prayer (See). You bow your head saying a prayer of thanks and say ‘Amen’ to the pastor (Celebrate).

Or

You have committed your day to look for the character of God in your day (Seek). A man opens a door for you as you are carrying something while he was busy doing something else and you recognize that gesture is very much like the character of God (See). You say “Thank you for watching out for me and making my day easier” (Celebrate).

Or

I have asked God to show me His face in a bar that my friends have asked me to go for a drink (Seek). In the crowded bar as I was waiting a guy who is semi drunk approaches me and says things like “Hey, can I buy you a beer?”, “I’m a regular here and I see this is new to you, what would you like to know?” and “What do your friends look like so I can help you find them?” I saw that he was displaying the character of God that was saying to me “Joe, I love you and I just want to welcome you into this place. You have asked to see me and I will show you my work and presence is already here and I’m glad you are here to celebrate me working, -not many do.” (See).  So I than thanked the guy and praised him for bringing such hospitality to me that I rarely experience (like the church especially). I also encourage that skill of welcoming and serving in him so that he will become the most of what God has already gifted him in (Celebrate).

The last scenario maybe the hardest, but I will guarantee it will be the most rewarding and the places that have been not inhabited and frequented by Christ followers need to have the seekers, seers and celebrators of His work and Character.

To begin a lifestyle of seek, see, celebrate here are some things that keep me on mission.

-Be in the community close to people in your normal sphere of living.

-spend time knowing and seeking who Jesus is

-begin a habit of writing down the ways you see the work of Jesus

Once I consistently work this muscle of seeking and seeing, I find the response (celebration) becomes natural, right and life giving to myself and others. Reason being is that Jesus’ mission is to give life to the fullest when we are in Him.