"Let us Press On to Know the Lord" - Reflections from Hosea (#10)

According to the Scranton Institute on Brain Research (2015), last year's top ten resolutions were
   #1  Lose weight
   #2  Get organized
   #3  Spend less, save more
   #4  Enjoy life to the fullest
   #5  Stay fit and healthy
   #6  Learn something exciting
   #7  Quit smoking
   #8  Help others in their dreams
   #9  Fall in love
  #10  Spent more time with family

Observing that list reveals that individual goals seem to come first, then further on down the list, goals that relate to helping others or loving others.   But such a list, and "resolutions" more generally, begs a question or two.

What motivates you?  And, how long does your motivation last?  Articles in Psychology Today suggest that 50% of us make new year's resolutions, but most of those "I'm gonna do it this year!" promises tend to fade.  Within a month.  Changing thinking and behaving which lasts is much harder than we realize.  We slip back into the old ruts.

Analysts also suggest that internal motivation has far more staying power than external motivation.  In other words, if your desire to change is prompted by what you think others want you to do, your chances of lasting change are diminished.  But if the fire is within...if you have a motivation that does not depend on the expectations of others, but something that has captured your own heart...the desired change in both thinking and behaving has a true opportunity.

INTERNAL DILIGENCE

The Bible often uses the words "diligence" and "pursuit."  There were some in Hosea's day who, though they lived in a society bent on worshipping false gods and living lawless lives, swam upstream.  Some who, gladly finding others with a similar, fresh spark within,  encouraged each other toward, "Let's press on to know the Lord" (Hosea 6:3).

You find these kinds of people throughout the pages of Scripture.

• "Enoch walked with God."   Genesis 5
• Psalm 119:10  "With my whole heart I seek you...(11) I have stored up your word in my heart...(15) I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on Your ways."
• "I press on toward the prize of the upward call of God...I want to know Him..." (Paul, Philippians 3).
• "Do your best to present yourself to God, a worker who need not be ashamed" (2 Timothy 2:15)
• "Run with endurance the race set before you, looking to Jesus...consider Him who endure..." (Hebrews 12)
• "God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6).

OR NOT...

"Ephraim's love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early.  I desire steadfast love, not sacrifice.  Knowledge of God, rather than burnt offerings" (Hosea 6:4-10).

Repeatedly, the Holy Spirit tells us that a growing life with the Lord is not about external religious ceremonies.  It's about the daily, step-by-step pursuit of the Lord.   Daily, internally driven, like a thirst.   Small, consistent steps -- day by day, week by week -- are far better than attempts at big leaps and boundings.  Steps of Scripture reading, daily moments of reflection and quiet prayer, letting the Lord "make my day" day after day after day.

But the drive must be internal. "As the hart pants for the waterbrook, so my soul pants for thee, O Lord" (Ps 42:1).