August 21, 2025
Dear Beloved in Christ,
Reviewing what we have learned through the week enables us to be active listeners that meditate on God’s Word so that we might be doers of His Word, not just hearers only, deceiving ourselves. James 1:22
There is so much reward in receiving God’s Word with an open heart!
Hebrews 11:6 ESV
[6] And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
https://bible.com/bible/59/heb.11.6.ESV
The King James version does a better job in my opinion translating the Greek in verse 6…
Hebrews 11:6 KJV
[6] But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
https://bible.com/bible/1/heb.11.6.KJV
The normal word for “seek” is zēteō (Strong’s Concordance G2212) and is used many times throughout the New Testament.
But in this verse the word used is ekzēteō, (G1567) and has an implication of dilgently seeking or carefully seeking and is only used 8 times in the New Testament.
So God rewards those who diligently seek Him! There is no millionaire or king that can give rewards that even minutely come close to what God gives!
So as we hear God’s Word each Sunday from the pastor, we should be grateful and excited to receive it and by God’s Spirit, live it! We can be excited each week to see where God will lead us.
What rewards does the Creator of the Universe give? Eternal joy and peace is among the greatest, but look at Abraham, David, Noah, Rahab, to name a few.
Abraham dilgently sought God and believed him and received the blessing of being the father of many nations, even though he was 100 years old when Isaac was born and Sarah past childbearing age.
He gave birth to many sons but thru Isaac his offspring was reckoned because from Isaac and then Jacob came eventually the Christ who died for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD!! 🤯🤯Rom 3:23 and 4000+ years later, we still know Abraham’s name!!🙃
Anything people or even the “gods of this world” can offer pales in comparison, because, one, they often can’t follow thru and two, their offers just don’t come close…
“What does it gain a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul…?” Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Noah diligently sought the Lord and though his life was not easy, he believed God and his actions that followed that belief caused him to spend 100 years🤯building a boat that would save his family when the rest of the world was destroyed for the corruption and evil.
Rahab the prostitute believed God and her family was saved from the destruction of Jericho and she married one of the Israelite men and gave birth to Boaz who married Ruth who was the great- grandmother of King David!!!
So, 1. She didn’t die when her city was destroyed. 2. Her family was rescued. And 3. She was in the lineage of Christ and yep..we still know her name thousands of years later, too.
But think of some of the prophets who loved God and diligently sought Him – they were beaten, many of them killed. What reward did they get?
And here is where we must understand that the second greatest reward we can ever receive from God is not what we receive here on this earth now, but the rewards that will come after our time here is done. For God most certainly is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
But the absolute biggest reward we can ever have can be had now and for eternity – it is to know God. To walk with Him, to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.
Deuteronomy 18:2 KJV
(Regarding the Levites, one of the 12 tribes of Israel.)
[2] Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren: the LORD is their inheritance, as he hath said unto them.
https://bible.com/bible/1/deu.18.2.KJV
And we are called, through Christ, to be a kingdom of kings and priests. To draw and point people to the Truth and Grace found in Christ.
1 Peter 2:9 KJV
[9] But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
https://bible.com/bible/1/1pe.2.9.KJV
So, are we diligently seeking Him?😊
This past Sunday Pastor Patterson taught on how “Jesus Endured the Cross.”
We read from Hebrews 12:1-2,
Hebrews 12:1-3 ESV
[1] Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
[2] looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
[3] Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
https://bible.com/bible/59/heb.12.1-3.ESV
Let’s diligently seek God this week by meditating on these verses and the sermon throughout the week and allowing God’s Word to penetrate our often stubborn hearts and busy schedules and worship Him alone in all we do.
Forgotten the sermon?🙃🙃😊
You can review it here!
https://youtu.be/Tv9WOqFe8fo
Starts around 19:15 if you’re seeking…😉
Next week, August 24, we look forward to hearing Pastor Thomas Fields preach from Heb. 12:4-11 on “Where is God?”
Sometimes we seem to go through hardships that are almost more than we can handle. Where is God in those hard times?😪😯
Come on down Sunday to find out!😊
Want you or a friend to receive these weekly messages via email?
Have them sign up here.
https://newhopegolden.org/sign-up-for-weekly-encouragement/
See you Sunday! And don’t miss out on the rewards God desires you and your loved ones to have. Seek him – diligently!
💞💞💞🙏🙏🙏✝️✝️✝️
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 ESV
In Christ’s Love, New Hope Lutheran, LCMS
New Hope Lutheran Church - Golden, CO 