Who Seeks the Lord?

Who Seeks the Lord?

Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually. – Psalms 105:4

1 Chronicles 16:8-12

Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds. Exult in his holy name; rejoice you who worship the LORD.

Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him. Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given.

Who Seeks God?

The familiar saying, “There are no atheists in foxholes,” suggests that in moments of danger, fear, or extreme uncertainty, people often turn instinctively toward a higher power. In the context of war, such sudden professions of faith are sometimes called “foxhole conversions.” The phrase endures because it captures something real about human vulnerability: when life strips away illusion and control, people often become more aware of their need for God.

Yet atheists, agnostics, and others who reject belief in God undeniably exist. Why is that so? The Scriptures present a sobering portrait of fallen humanity. Left to ourselves, we do not naturally move toward God in humility and love. Instead, we drift away from Him.

Psalms 53:2-3:

“God looks down from heaven at the human race to see if there is anyone who is wise and seeks God. Everyone rejects God; they are all morally corrupt. None of them does what is right, not even one!”

This is a grave diagnosis of the human condition. Sin has so distorted the heart that people do not seek God. If anyone truly turns toward Him, it is because He has first taken the initiative.

The Father Makes the First Move

What, then, moves a person to seek God? The answer begins with God Himself. We seek Him because He first sought us. The foundation of every genuine response to God is His prior love, grace, and initiative.

1 John 4:19: “We love because he first loved us.”

This verse captures the essence of the relationship. The Father extends His unconditional love toward us, and our love for Him is a response to that love. The decisive difference is not human goodness or spiritual insight, but divine love. He acts first. He awakens. He draws. He calls. Our seeking is fundamentally a response to His prior seeking.

Since God’s initiative establishes the relationship, the call to seek Him is perfectly compatible with His sovereign grace. It is a gracious invitation to respond. The Scriptures repeatedly urge believers to seek the Lord, depend upon His strength, and live in conscious awareness of His presence.

1 Chronicles 16:11: “Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually.”

This command reaches beyond occasional prayer in moments of crisis. To seek the Lord is to rely on Him rather than on ourselves, especially in seasons of weakness, need, or confusion. To seek His strength is to recognize that our own resources are insufficient and that true power comes from God alone.

The phrase “Seek His face” goes even further. It calls us to pursue the Father Himself, not merely His blessings or assistance. It expresses the desire for nearness, fellowship, and the continual enjoyment of His presence. This is not a call to religious routine, but to a living, personal, and enduring relationship with Him.

Knowing About God vs Knowing God

A profound difference exists between knowing about God and truly knowing God. A person may possess accurate theological information and yet remain distant from Him in lived experience. The Scriptures make clear that real knowledge of God involves encounter, relationship, and growing intimacy.

Job expresses this distinction with remarkable clarity: Job 42:5: “I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.”

Job moved from secondhand knowledge to personal encounter. His words illustrate the difference between information and communion. It is one thing to know truths about the Father; it is another to know Him in a direct, relational, and transformative way.

Face-To-Face Fellowship in the Scriptures

The Scriptures offer only a limited number of instances in which individuals experienced direct, personal knowledge of God. Among Old Testament figures, Moses stands apart.

Exodus 33:11: “Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.”

Deuteronomy 34:10: “There has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face.”

These descriptions do not merely indicate recognition. They point to unusual nearness, familiarity, and fellowship. Moses serves as a striking example of what intimate communion with God can look like. Although such language is exceptional in the Scriptures, it reveals something important about God’s intention: He created human beings not for distance, but for relationship.

The Pursuit of Intimacy with God

Every child of the King knows the Father in a real and personal sense. Yet the depth of that knowledge varies greatly. Some know Him only faintly; others walk with Him in a far richer and more settled intimacy. The call of the walk of faith is therefore not simply to acknowledge God, but to pursue Him actively and continually.

Seeking His face means wanting more than just answers, relief, or blessings; it signifies a longing for God Himself. It shows an awareness that something is missing without His presence and that true fulfillment is found only in Him.

REFLECT & PRAY

Each child of the King needs strength and confidence, and the Father alone is our stronghold. He supplies all the strength we truly need. Our responsibility is to acknowledge His power, place ourselves under His care, and seek His strength continually. We are called to seek His face and live in the light of His presence.

Father, thank You for seeking me so that I might seek You. Teach me to depend upon Your strength, rest in Your presence, and desire You above all else.

INSIGHT

Seeking the Lord and His Strength

Psalms 105:4: “Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him.”

Why is awareness of His strength so essential? Because we are fallen creatures with limited physical, emotional, and spiritual resources. Left to ourselves, we are not sufficient for the demands of faithful living. Our spiritual vitality depends upon the strength God supplies. He strengthens His people inwardly, imparting what they do not possess in themselves. As a result, we learn to depend not on our own power, but on His.

How We Seek Him

How does this happen? It begins with surrender. We yield our ambitions, desires, and plans to Him and learn to align ourselves with His will and His kingdom priorities. To seek the Lord is not simply to ask for assistance while preserving self-rule; it is to submit ourselves to the rule of One greater than we are.

The Call to Surrender

Luke 9:23-24:

“Then he said to the crowd, If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.”

As children of the King, we do not belong to ourselves. We surrender our lives to Him, trusting that His way is better than our own.

The Meaning of Seeking

Psalms 105:4: “Seek for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek his face.”

In this verse, two different Hebrew words are translated as seek, and together they enrich the meaning of the command. The first is darash, which conveys the sense of “seeking carefully and earnestly, even with petition, desire, and persistence.” It suggests “wholehearted pursuit.” We are not approaching the Father casually, but with focused desire and intentionality.

The second word is baqash, which carries the sense of “searching for, calling upon, or consulting.” It often refers to “seeking something missing, hidden, or urgently needed.” In this context, seeking His face implies longing, dependence, and a recognition that apart from His presence, something vital is absent.

Taken together, these terms show that seeking the Lord is not passive or occasional. It is earnest, sustained, and deeply personal. We are called to seek the Lord, His strength, and His presence continually.

How We Seek the Lord

We seek the Lord in practical and habitual ways to foster real communion with Him.

  • Read and study the Scriptures. In them, we learn not only God’s works and purposes, but also His character and heart.
  • Reflect and meditate. We take time to ponder His Word and become attentive to His presence.
  • Pray and worship. We cultivate heartfelt communication with God, expressing gratitude, dependence, and praise as we seek His face.
  • Live according to His kingdom standards. Obedience deepens fellowship and aligns our lives with His will.
  • Walk in the Spirit. We allow His power and grace to work through us for the good of others and for His glory.

A Lifelong Pursuit

The call to seek God is repeated because it is central to the life of faith. We never outgrow our need for Him, nor do we ever exhaust the riches of knowing Him. The more we come to know the Father, the more we are drawn to seek Him still further.

J. I. Packer observed, to seek His face is to desire His presence, His favor, and the conscious enjoyment of fellowship with Him. We begin by seeking Him, then His strength, and then His face. In doing so, reverence leads to dependence, and dependence leads to deeper communion. This pursuit does not end. The more we know, the more we long to know.

Even in seasons of difficulty, that truth remains steady. We must not allow hardship to shake our confidence in God’s nearness. Craig Groeschel urges, “Never let the presence of a storm cause you to doubt the presence of God.” The Father remains faithful, and He continues to draw His people to Himself.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

© Dr. H 2026

The Casual Indifference of Self-absorbed Distractions

The Casual Indifference of Self-absorbed Distractions

You are worried and bothered about so many things, but only one thing is necessary – Luke 10:41-42

Luke 21:34-36

Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by . . . the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth.

Keep alert at all times.

Christ Ignored in Plain Sight

In 1904, Sigismund Goetze exhibited his painting “He Was Despised and Rejected of Men” at the Royal Academy in London, where it provoked considerable attention. Although portrayals of Christ’s suffering are common, this work stands out for both its concept and its execution.

At the center of the painting is the Lord Jesus Christ, bound to a pedestal. Above Him in the background stands an angel with a bowed head, holding a cup. Yet despite the gravity of the scene, the crowd surrounding Christ pays Him little attention. People move past Him without a glance, absorbed in the ordinary demands of daily life. For them, life proceeds as usual. Only one figure, a nurse easily identified by her uniform, turns to look at Him.

What makes the image especially arresting is that the crowd is dressed not in ancient garments but in contemporary Victorian clothing. By placing Christ’s suffering in the setting of ordinary modern life, Goetze creates a striking contrast between the eternal significance of Christ’s sacrifice and the world’s casual indifference around Him.

The Unknown God

An even closer look reveals that Christ is bound to an altar inscribed with the words “The Unknown God,” a clear allusion to Paul’s address in Athens. This detail adds both historical and theological depth to the painting. It suggests that Christ may stand at the very center of human life and still remain unrecognized, misunderstood, or ignored.

The painting’s message remains powerful and relevant in the twenty-first century, with only superficial details changing. Nowadays, passersby are probably absorbed in their smartphones, distracted and disengaged as they walk by. Goetze’s core message is still strikingly relevant: many people continue to be unaware of, overlook, or intentionally ignore the Lord Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for the sins of the world.

Isaiah 53:3: “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”

Sigismund Goetze
He Was Despised and Rejected of Men

Acts 17:22-23:

“Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, for as I was walking along, I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.”

REFLECT & PRAY

In the fast-paced rhythm of daily life, it’s common to become spiritually inattentive to the Lord Jesus Christ. With so many distractions around us, we often forget what truly matters.

Father, You know how hurried and crowded life can become. Teach me to order my life with wisdom, to grow steadily in faithfulness, and to give You first place in all things.

INSIGHT

Who is Jesus Christ, and Why Does It Matter?

The question of who Jesus Christ is lies at the heart of the Christian faith. It is more than just theological curiosity; it shapes our understanding of God, salvation, truth, and eternal life. Believing in Him is essential because it is through faith in Him that we receive the life He alone gives.

The Signs that Reveal His Identity

Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus performed numerous signs that revealed His true identity. These were not just miracles; they were purposeful acts designed to help people identify Him and place their faith in Him.

John 20:30-31:

“Therefore, many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”

John clearly explains that these signs were documented so that people would believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and through that belief receive life in His name. Eternal life isn’t found in vague spirituality or moral effort, but in Christ Himself.

The Question Every Person Must Answer

During His time on earth, many struggled to grasp Jesus’ true identity. Some admired Him, some wondered about Him, and still others misunderstood Him altogether. Yet Jesus refused to leave the matter undefined. He asked His disciples this question, and the Gospel record poses it to all readers as well.

Matthew 16:13-17:

“Now, when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’

And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’

He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’

Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.’”

This moment highlights that a genuine confession of Christ is not based on human reasoning and insight. Peter answered correctly because the Father revealed the truth to him. The fundamental question still stands for everyone today, and it cannot be sidestepped forever: Who do you say He is?

Faith, Unbelief, and the Work of the Father

The Lord Jesus Christ always knew the hearts of those around Him. He knew who would believe, who would turn away, and who would betray Him. He spoke straightforwardly about the spiritual truths behind faith and disbelief.

John 6:64-66:

“But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him.

For this reason, I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.’

As a result of this, many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.”

Faith requires a genuine personal response, but the Scriptures also emphasize that the Father actively draws people to the Son. Salvation is not just about human choice or effort; it relies on divine grace, initiative, and revelation. Many heard Christ’s words, but not everyone accepted them. That reality has not changed.

The Necessity of Believing in Christ

Peter realized the magnitude of believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. He knew that only Christ has the words of eternal life and that there is no other source of salvation.

John 6:68-69:

“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”

This confession underscores a core truth of the Christian faith: forgiveness, eternal life, and reconciliation with the Father are exclusively available through Christ. He is not merely one option among many, but the Holy One of God, the only Savior, and the only path to the Father.

Growing in Relationship with Christ

When someone accepts Jesus Christ as Savior, living a life of faith requires daily choices to strengthen that connection. While life’s demands and distractions can easily pull us away, we intentionally choose to deepen our relationship with Him. Spiritual growth isn’t instantaneous but grows steadily as we keep Christ at the center of our thoughts, love, and priorities.

Growing in faith requires perseverance, discipline, and grace. The walk of faith isn’t static; there are periods of deep spiritual connection and times of dryness, struggle, or slow progress. These fluctuations are normal and should not cause discouragement; they are part of the natural rhythm of spiritual growth.

As A. H. Strong observed, “Growth is not a uniform thing in the tree or in the Christian. In some single months, there is more growth than in all the year besides. During the rest of the year, however, there is solidification, without which the green timber would be useless. The period of rapid growth, when the woody fiber is actually deposited between the bark and the trunk, occupies but four to six weeks in May, June, and July.”

His point is instructive: spiritual growth isn’t always dramatic or outwardly visible. Sometimes, transformation occurs in dramatic moments, while at other times, it manifests as quiet strengthening, stabilizing, and deepening of the inner life. Both are essential.

There are also moments when rest is necessary. Sometimes, we need to loosen our bow and release the tension. Resting isn’t a sign of failure but a vital part of faithful endurance. For that reason, we should not lose heart. Instead, we must continue pressing forward toward the high calling God has set before us.

The Danger of Distraction

Whether or not they are children of the King, people are often distracted from what matters most. The pressures, responsibilities, and the relentless mental noise of the world can gradually displace wholehearted attention to Christ.

Luke 10:41-42: “You are worried and bothered about so many things, but only one thing is necessary.”

These words remain profoundly relevant. In an age marked by distraction, the one necessary thing is still to turn to the Lord Jesus Christ. Knowing, trusting, and remaining committed to Him are not minor concerns; they are the core of life itself.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

© Dr. H 2026

The Strategy of Deception

The Strategy of Deception

No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore, it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds. – 2 Corinthians 11:14-15

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.

We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

Misinformation and the Need for Truth

Many commentators and cultural observers have characterized 2018 as a year dominated by misinformation. As a major negative outcome of the information age, misinformation has become widespread, closely followed by disinformation. It often takes the form of falsehoods, delusions, and deeply rooted beliefs that persist despite clear evidence. These distortions and half-truths spread through various sources, including streaming media, mainstream media, Facebook, Russian troll farms, Congress, and the White House. The concept of objective, evidence-based truth is increasingly contested.

This cultural instability was vividly exemplified on Aug. 19, 2018, when Rudy Giuliani, then acting as White House counsel, stated, “Truth isn’t truth.” His remark highlighted a disturbing moment in public discourse, in which truth was treated as partisan, malleable, and dependent on personal opinion rather than on factual reality. In such a climate, misinformation and propaganda aim not just to persuade but to disorient. When multiple alternative explanations, interpretations, and conflicting narratives are introduced, the facts themselves can be marginalized and eventually obscured altogether.

The Father’s Gift of Absolute Truth

Against this backdrop of confusion, the Father has given us something the world cannot produce for itself: absolute truth. Unlike public opinion, cultural fashion, or political rhetoric, absolute truth does not shift with changing circumstances. It does not bend to preference, compromise with error, or blend with falsehood. It stands firm on its own, distinct from and opposed to every rival claim that seeks to replace it.

Therefore, recognizing falsehood requires more than mere instinct, suspicion, or cautious thinking. The truth of the Word of God is the ultimate test for exposing lies. However, this discernment demands more than familiarity with biblical terms or concepts; it requires a deep understanding of what the Word teaches. Believers must stay rooted in the Word, reading it carefully, reflecting on its meaning, and meditating on it until its truth becomes ingrained in both their minds and hearts.

A staff member at a well-known university once joked that he could always tell when his boss was lying because of one clear sign: his lips were moving. While humorous, this remark highlights a serious truth. It is often much easier to spot falsehood in others than within ourselves.

The Devil and the Strategy of Deception

The enemy of our souls is the father of lies and the master of misinformation. He works through darkness, distortion, and deceit, trying to hide the truth and corrupt what is good. Deception is central to his strategy, with duplicity being one of his main tools, since darkness opposes light and falsehood opposes truth.

Those who follow him are led away from life and toward eternal separation from the Father. His influence corrupts and destroys goodness, purity, honor, honesty, beauty, and all that gives life, dignity, and grace. He undermines peace of mind, happiness, and even distorts love itself. Evil, by its very nature, moves toward destruction.

The Lord Jesus Christ stands in stark contrast, offering life and guiding people into it. Unlike the enemy, He reveals the truth and restores what is broken. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, guiding us to the Father.

Regarding the devil, the Lord Jesus Christ reveals in John 8:44: “He speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

When the evil one speaks lies, he does so out of his very nature. The Greek phrase ek ton idiom, translated as “from his own nature,” that is, “his own stuff.” He speaks from the depths of his character and being. In other words, deception is not incidental to Satan; it reflects what he fundamentally is. Lying is his native tongue. Falsehood comes naturally to him because it is woven into his essential character. He distorts, dissembles, and prevaricates because deception is not foreign to him, but intrinsic to his identity.

REFLECT & PRAY

Each of us has experienced confusion and immaturity regarding the Word of God. Sadly, for some, these feelings may persist.

Father, ignite within me a deeper longing for your truth and empower me to immerse myself in your Word. May the Scriptures saturate my mind, soul, and spirit, enabling me to discern falsehood and walk faithfully in your light.

INSIGHT

Christ and the Enemy: A Fundamental Contrast

The enemy and the Lord Jesus Christ are fundamentally opposed. Jesus loves us, seeks our well-being, and desires what leads to life. Conversely, the enemy hates us and works toward our destruction. Christ offers life, light, truth, and peace, while the enemy deals in death, darkness, deception, and chaos. Where Christ restores, the enemy corrupts; where Christ frees, the enemy enslaves; and where Christ speaks truth, the enemy twists reality to confuse and undermine.

This contrast is not merely abstract or theological; it influences the daily lives of every believer. Central to spiritual conflict is a battle over what we choose to believe, love, and ultimately whom we pledge allegiance to.

The Battlefield of the Mind

The mind is the ultimate battleground, where spiritual warfare is often most intense. Here, truth is either embraced or rejected, and lies are either uncovered or allowed to grow. For this reason, the apostle Paul emphasizes the need to prepare and discipline the mind so believers can stand firm amid spiritual struggles. Christians are not meant to be passive; instead, they must remain vigilant, taking every thought captive and submitting it to the truth of Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5: “We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”

Paul’s language is both purposeful and compelling. Spiritual warfare involves confronting false ideas, exposing proud, self-justifying reasoning, and rejecting any claims that contradict the knowledge of God. Fundamentally, this battle is primarily against falsehood, distortion, and rebellion in the realm of thought and belief, not just against visible enemies. Therefore, our minds must be anchored in the truth of Scripture rather than in the unstable, changing assumptions of the culture around us.

The Nature of Spiritual Warfare

The challenges that believers encounter are genuine, even if they are not always visible. Our struggle isn’t only with circumstances, institutions, or people but also against unseen spiritual forces. Satan is the mastermind behind these forces, operating through lies, accusations, temptations, and confusion. He constantly disseminates false information and propaganda that oppose the truth revealed by the Father.

The apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 6:12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

This underscores the need to understand spiritual warfare correctly to engage in it faithfully. The walk of faith is not about self-improvement or a moral battle of willpower. It is fundamentally a fight against spiritual darkness, which seeks to penetrate the mind through persuasive falsehoods.

Satan’s lies are rarely crude or obvious. More often, they are cloaked in sophistication, sounding lofty, intelligent, or culturally advanced. They may seem nuanced, progressive, or freeing, but beneath this polished surface, they are often empty. What sounds impressive intellectually can actually be hollow, pretentious, and deeply fallacious. Such deception contains the roots of despair, misery, alienation, and death.

The Need for a Truth Filter

Therefore, every child of the King must cultivate a mature and discerning Truth Filter. Believers must learn to distinguish what is valuable from what is worthless, what truly nourishes the soul from what quietly corrodes it, and what is essential from what is merely tangential, base, or even distracting. Such discernment does not arise automatically. It is formed through regular engagement with the Scriptures, careful biblical reflection, prayerful dependence on the Holy Spirit, and an increasing love for all that is good, true, and beautiful.

This Truth Filter is more than a defensive safeguard. It not only protects the believer from error, but also trains the mind and heart to recognize, treasure, and communicate what is true. It teaches us not merely to reject falsehood, but also to prize wisdom. In a world saturated with distortion, discernment becomes an essential expression of faithfulness.

The prophet Jeremiah writes Jeremiah 15:19: “If you extract the precious from the worthless, you will become My spokesman.”

This verse defines the task with striking precision. To extract the precious from the worthless is to exercise spiritual discernment with care, seriousness, and faithfulness. It requires the ability to sift through competing claims and recognize what truly carries the weight of truth. It means rejecting confusion, sentimentality, and corruption to embrace what is sound, lasting, and true.

In its immediate context, the verse refers to the calling of one who speaks on God’s behalf. Yet its principle extends more broadly. All who desire to represent the Father faithfully must learn to distinguish what is valuable from what is empty, truth from distortion, and substance from illusion.

The Scriptures and the Renewal of the Mind

The mind cannot be protected from deception unless it is first shaped by truth. For this reason, the Scriptures are indispensable in spiritual warfare. They do far more than offer comfort; they bring clarity. The Scriptures expose falsehood, correct disordered thinking, and train believers to perceive reality as God has revealed it. The more deeply the mind is shaped by divine truth, the less susceptible it becomes to the enemy’s schemes and manipulations.

Paul exhorts in Romans 12:2: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

The renewal of the mind is not optional for the believer. It is essential to spiritual maturity and fundamental to spiritual resistance. To think as a child of the King is to understand the world through the lens of divine revelation rather than through the distortions of the age. This kind of renewal protects the heart, stabilizes judgment, and strengthens the will.

The battle between Christ and the enemy is essentially a struggle between truth and falsehood, life and death, light and darkness. Since the mind plays a key role in this struggle, believers need to think carefully, discern wisely, and submit every thought to the lordship of Christ. Satan’s lies may appear refined and harmless, but they remain destructive at their core. The Lord Jesus Christ, by contrast, leads his people into truth, life, and freedom. Therefore, we must remain grounded in the Scriptures, grow in discernment, and be prepared to identify what is precious and reject what is worthless with spiritual insight and confidence. Spiritual discernment is not merely useful; it is absolutely essential.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

© Dr. H 2026

Jacob’s Well – The CHOSEN

Jacob’s Well – The CHOSEN

You are a holy people who belong to the LORD your God. Of all the people on earth, the LORD your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure. – Deuteronomy 7:6

Ephesians 1:4-5

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. He wanted to do this, and it gave him great pleasure.

The God We Did Not Choose

In Season 1, Episode 8 of The Chosen, the opening scene presents a memorable conversation between Jacob and a Canaanite neighbor named Yassib. Jacob and his twelve sons are digging a well in Canaan when Yassib approaches and begins speaking with him. Jacob explains that they are sojourners, living in the land while waiting for the fulfillment of the promise God had made to his grandfather Abraham.

With a note of skepticism, Yassib remarks, “Have you ever noticed how the gods are always promising us things, but we never really see them happen?” Jacob replies simply, “Sometimes it takes generations.”

When Yassib asks the name of Jacob’s God, Jacob answers, “El Shaddai.” Yassib, unfamiliar with the name, says, “Never heard of Him.” Jacob responds, “Not many people have. But I think someday they will.”

The exchange becomes even more revealing when Yassib asks where Jacob and his sons worship this God. Do they carry Him with them wherever they go? Jacob explains that there are no carved idols of Him. Yassib immediately responds, “So He’s invisible?” Jacob answers, with dry wit, “Yes, well, usually. There was one time He broke my hip.”

Yassib laughs and points out how unusual this all sounds. Of all the gods Jacob might have chosen, he has devoted himself to One who is invisible, whose promises take generations to unfold, who calls His people to live as wanderers in unfamiliar places, and who once left him limping. Jacob’s answer is short, but it carries immense theological weight: “We didn’t choose Him.”

That line captures a deeply biblical truth. At the heart of redemption is not first our choice of God, but God’s choice of us. The relationship begins with Him. His initiative precedes our response. His purpose stands before human history begins to unfold, and His grace reaches us before we ever think to seek Him.

God’s Sovereign Purposes Before Time

Before the foundation of the world, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit existed together in eternity. Before there was creation, before there was time, before there were angels or human beings, God alone was. In that eternal counsel, God determined what would come to pass. He chose to create the heavens and the earth. He chose to bring forth humanity. He chose Israel as a people set apart for His purposes. He ordained that the Son would enter history as the Messiah, the Christ, and the Savior of sinners. He also decided to redeem His Forever Family for Himself, composed of believers from all ages, who would become children of the King.

This truth rests on a simple reality: before creation, no one else existed. There were no creatures to advise, oppose, or contribute to His decisions. God alone was there. He simply said seven times, “Let there be . . .”

At the same time, the Scriptures are equally clear that human beings make real decisions throughout history. We think, choose, obey, resist, trust, and rebel. This tension between divine sovereignty and human responsibility is one of the faith’s great antinomies. It stretches beyond the limits of human reason, yet it presents no contradiction in the mind of God. The Scriptures affirm both truths without apology: God reigns absolutely, and human choices are fully real. But nothing is left to chance.

The Chosen Servant

The clearest expression of the Father’s sovereign purpose is seen in the sending of His Son. Jesus Christ did not arrive by chance, nor were His mission and life shaped by circumstances beyond God’s control. His coming was planned and decided from eternity. The Father chose Him and sent Him into the world as the chosen Redeemer.

Matthew 12:18: “Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, who pleases me. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.”

This verse points directly to the Lord Jesus Christ as God’s chosen Servant. The Father sent the Son to be the Messiah, the Christ, and the Savior of the world. His mission was not improvised. The incarnation, the cross, and the resurrection unfolded according to divine purpose. Redemption is grounded in God’s will and grace.

REFLECT & PRAY

Romans 8:1: “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.”

Father, thank You that in Your grace You have chosen even me. Help me to rest in the certainty of Your love, to trust the wisdom of Your purposes, and to live in gratitude for the salvation You have given through Christ.

INSIGHT

God’s Sovereign Choice of Israel

The Father sovereignly chose to bring forth the nation of Israel through Abraham, a Gentile whom He called by grace. From Abraham came Isaac, from Isaac came Jacob, and from Jacob came the twelve tribes. 

Deuteronomy 10:15: “The LORD chose your ancestors as the objects of his love. And he chose you, their descendants, above all other nations, as is evident today.”

God’s selection of Israel was rooted not in their greatness, strength, or merit. It was grounded in God’s love, His covenant purposes, and His sovereign will.

Jeremiah 31:3: “Long ago, the LORD said to Israel: ‘I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love, I have drawn you to myself.’”

This everlasting love raises an important question: Would the Father ever reject His people and nullify His covenant with Israel? God’s love for Israel is not temporary or conditional. The Old Testament records repeated rebellion, disobedience, and defiance. Yet their sin did not overturn His covenant faithfulness.

Jeremiah 31:36-37:

“I am as likely to reject my people Israel as I am to abolish the laws of nature! This is what the LORD says: ‘Just as the heavens cannot be measured and the foundations of the earth cannot be explored, so I will not consider casting them away for the evil they have done. I, the LORD, have spoken!’”

The answer is unmistakable. God does not abandon His covenant people. His faithfulness is not fragile, and His promises are not revoked by human failure. God’s love for Israel is not temporary, conditional, or unstable.

Why This Matters for the Children of the King

This truth matters deeply for the children of the King because the covenant faithfulness God demonstrated toward Israel illustrates the security believers now possess under the New Covenant. God’s dealings with Israel reveal His character. He is steadfast, patient, truthful, and unwavering in His commitments. What He begins, He does not abandon.

Those who are Jewish were near to the covenant promises by historical calling and inheritance. Those who are Gentiles were once far off, strangers to the covenants of promise and outside the commonwealth of Israel. Yet in Jesus Christ, both have been brought near and united as one redeemed people, the children of the King.

Ephesians 2:13-14:

“But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once, you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.”

In Christ, the dividing wall is broken down. Jew and Gentile alike now stand on the same ground: redeemed by grace, reconciled to God, and joined together in one body.

Secure in the Father’s Love

Does the Father’s love perpetually shield the children of the King? The answer is a resounding yes. This assurance does not hinge on our obedience, emotional state, or spiritual maturity; rather, it rests on God’s steadfast love and the completed work of Jesus Christ.

The nation of Israel stands as a powerful testament to God’s unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises. Despite their numerous shortcomings and failures, God remained loyal and never abandoned them.

Similarly, the apostle Peter’s journey exemplifies the same divine commitment; although he denied Christ, Peter was restored by Him.

In both cases, divine faithfulness overcomes human frailty, making clear that God’s commitment to His people depends on His unchanging nature rather than their flawless obedience. This highlights the truth that our confidence and security in God depend on His everlasting love and faithfulness.

Romans 8:31-39:

“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Who then will condemn us? No one – for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God.

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© Dr. H 2026

Wiley and the Unstoppable Pig

Wiley and the Unstoppable Pig

Be still, and know that I am God! – Psalms 46:10

Philippians 4:6-7

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

The Unstoppable Pig

The feral hog is one of the most destructive animals in North America. It uproots crops, contaminates water sources, and devastates ecosystems with a persistence that borders on the relentless. For decades, wildlife managers, farmers, and government agencies have tried nearly everything to bring the population under control: trapping, hunting, aerial gunning, and chemical deterrents.

The hogs did not succumb to management efforts; instead, they absorbed them. The more pressure the agencies exerted, the more the animal adapted. The problem outpaced the capacity of human systems to contain it.  Yet tucked inside this ecological crisis is a profound spiritual truth: some problems are too large for human hands alone.

The History of the Hog Problem

The feral hog, Sus scrofa, is not native to North America. Spanish explorers introduced domesticated pigs to the continent in the 1500s, and over the centuries, escaped animals bred with Eurasian wild boars, producing an extraordinarily adaptable creature. Today, an estimated 6 to 9 million feral hogs roam across at least 35 states, according to the USDA, causing roughly $2.5 billion in agricultural damage annually.

Eradicating feral hogs is challenging because their resilience stems from the very traits that enable them to survive and multiply so effectively. Their rapid reproduction allows populations to grow at a pace that often surpasses control efforts, while their high intelligence makes them formidable opponents. Feral hogs adapt easily to diverse environments, remain largely nocturnal, learn to recognize trapping patterns, and adjust their behavior when hunted.

In 2004, a photograph of an enormous wild hog suspended from a backhoe captured national attention after going viral. Shot and killed by Chris Griffin in Alapaha, Georgia, on June 17, 2004. It was originally widely considered a hoax or urban legend. Locals nicknamed the animal “Hogzilla,” a name that quickly became part of popular folklore. National Geographic later sent a team of experts to examine the case, and they estimated that the hog measured about 8 feet in length and weighed about 800 pounds. Its tusks reportedly measured 16 and 18 inches, adding to the animal’s extraordinary and intimidating reputation.

Hogzilla and Chris Griffin

State agencies have poured resources into control programs for generations. Population models suggest that managers must remove approximately 70 percent of a regional hog population each year simply to prevent growth. That threshold has proven nearly impossible to meet through human effort alone.

Enter the Coyote

In recent years, researchers have identified an unexpected pattern in regions with healthy, stable coyote populations: feral hog numbers tend to be lower. The decline is not dramatic, but it is measurable. Long regarded as little more than a nuisance, coyotes appear to exert meaningful pressure by preying on piglets, disrupting nesting, and slowing reproduction in ways that human control efforts have often failed to achieve.

Coyotes are highly adaptable predators that exploit available food sources. The feral hogs provide a delicious, readily available, abundant source of fresh meat on the hoof. They would generally target strays, piglets, and smaller juveniles. Occasionally, coyotes have been observed hunting in groups and confronting larger hogs. Their hunting method is their normal foraging behavior. It is not a highly coordinated campaign against hog populations.

For that reason, claims that coyotes systematically conduct organized nighttime hunts against feral hogs should be treated cautiously. Popular stories, online videos, and AI-generated narrations often exaggerate the scale and coordination of this behavior. Even so, the broader point remains valid: coyotes do help control feral hog populations, even if their role is sometimes overstated.

What makes this especially remarkable is that the coyotes, often nicknamed “Wiley” because of their perceived cunning, are accomplishing this without human direction, funding, or supervision. Their role is not the result of an organized management program but of an intelligently ordered ecosystem functioning as it was designed to. In this case, the natural world has quietly achieved what extensive wildlife management efforts have often struggled to accomplish.

The solution wasn’t achieved through new technology or advanced trapping techniques, but rather through the reemergence of a natural predator-prey relationship that existed in creation long before the problem arose.

Spiritual Lessons from the Feral Hog Dilemma

At its heart, the story of Wiley and the hog illustrates that some problems exceed human capacity. The Scriptures consistently call children of the King to acknowledge the limits of their own understanding and to trust in God’s wisdom and provision, particularly when circumstances seem intractable.

Solomon explains in Proverbs 3:5-6 that we are to,

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

The distinction here is not between faith and effort, but between relying on oneself and relying on God. Human understanding and ability have their limits, whereas divine wisdom and power are limitless.

REFLECT & PRAY

The Scriptures urge believers to recognize their own limits and to rely on God’s wisdom and provision, especially when situations appear unmanageable.

Father, thank You for leading me to face insurmountable problems that teach me to trust and depend upon You, not myself.

INSIGHT

Be Still and See the Salvation of the Lord

When the Israelites stood at the edge of the Red Sea, with Pharaoh’s army behind them and the waters before them, Moses delivered one of the most striking commands in the biblical narrative.

Exodus 14:13-14:

“Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

The instruction was to remain still, not to devise a new strategy, escalate, or invent a solution. In that moment, Israel’s salvation would come through God’s intervention, not human ingenuity.

However, stillness does not imply passivity. Exercising faith does not mean doing nothing. Moses led the people forward, the priests stepped into the Jordan before the waters parted, and David ran toward Goliath. Scripture shows that faith doesn’t eliminate action but rather aligns it with the truth. Biblical faith involves taking action confidently, trusting that the outcome depends on God rather than solely on human effort.

Peace in the Midst of Insurmountable Circumstances

The Apostle Paul conveyed this truth from a situation that appeared insurmountable by all human standards. Writing from a Roman prison, he was not speaking from comfort or certainty, but from ongoing hardship. Despite this, he testified to a peace rooted not in circumstances changing, but in unwavering trust in God.

Paul comforts the Philippians in Philippians 4:6-7:

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Paul’s peace did not come from having his problems solved. His imprisonment remained real, and his situation was unchanged. What shifted was his perspective: instead of being controlled by his circumstances, he placed his trust in the One who governs all. This shows that God’s peace isn’t rooted in the absence of difficulties but in trusting God’s sovereign care during them.

The Central Lesson

Overall, these passages suggest that the biggest human challenges cannot be solved simply through increased force, better strategies, or relentless effort. Instead, they are initially addressed through faith in God, whose wisdom surpasses human understanding and whose power is not limited by what seems impossible. The Scriptures acknowledge the existence of seemingly insurmountable problems; they highlight that such issues expose the limits of human control and emphasize the need for divine assistance.

Facing Your Unstoppable Pig

Every person eventually faces some version of the feral hog: a problem that resists every strategy, drains every effort, yet persists, sometimes even grows, despite sincere attempts to bring it under control. It may take the form of a fractured relationship that seems beyond repair, a habit that outlasts every resolution, a fear that reason cannot quell, or a season of life that no careful plan has successfully navigated.

The Limits of Human Effort

The ecological lesson from Wiley is not that human effort has no value. The coyote’s survival still relies on habitat, policies, and protection. As of now, in many parts of the country, it is open season on coyotes. The more profound message is that certain issues are solved through a wisdom inherently embedded in the intelligent design of the created order.

Stillness as Redirected Trust

Psalms 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God!”

The stillness described here does not imply passivity or resignation. Rather, it calls for a deliberate reorientation of trust. It invites us to recognize that the Creator of all things possesses the wisdom and power to address what human effort alone cannot ultimately resolve. Such stillness is not the abandonment of responsibility, but the surrender of anxious self-reliance. Biblical stillness is not inactivity; it is a calm, steady, and deeply rooted confidence in the sovereignty of God. It is the posture of a heart that ceases striving for ultimate control and rests instead in the One whose authority, wisdom, and purposes remain unshaken.

Where Strategy Ends, and Faith Begins

The hog is real, and the challenge is real. Yet the God who wove solutions into the fabric of the natural world is the same God who meets human beings at the edge of their own limits. He is present where strategy runs out, where control fails, and where faith shifts from relying on human ability to trusting divine sufficiency. In those moments of fatigue and doubt, believers are not forsaken. Instead, these moments become the very places where God’s presence, wisdom, and power are felt most profoundly.

Solomon sagaciously writes in Psalms 127:1: “Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.”

Human effort is essential, but it is not sufficient on its own. Builders must still build, and watchmen must still keep watch; yet in the end, both remain dependent on God. Lasting stability and true security in any work do not rest on human labor alone, but on the presence, will, and blessing of God. He alone grants what endures: genuine fruitfulness, lasting stability, and enduring security.

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© Dr. H 2026