“There’s a lot of good stuff in the world,” Stan commented one morning, “and there’s a lot of stuff that’s not so good.”
“Even downright bad,” I replied.
“Exactly,” Stan said, “and that makes it super-important for my faith walk that I be careful about what I look for and what I seek to find.”
“How so?”
“People generally find what they’re looking for,” Stan replied. “I know for a fact that in my life before I started looking for the right thing I often found the bad stuff I was looking for.”
“You purposefully looked for bad stuff in your life?”
“Sure did,” Stan replied. “And it’s easy to find. Look for bad stuff and the devil makes sure it shows up.”
“The Book of Proverbs says something about that, doesn’t it?” I asked.
“You’re right,” Stan replied. “It says very wisely that a person who searches after evil will find it. Doesn’t say ‘might’ find it; it says ‘will’ find it. And I’ve got lots of experience to back that up!”
Continuing, he added, “Fortunately, God blessed me with people He brought into my life to show me that the opposite is true.”
“Opposite? What opposite?”
“If I seek God and the good He has for me,” Stan replied, “I will find that. I did and I do. As I sought what God had for me for through the finished work of the cross, I found it. And as I continue to seek what God has for me, that’s what I find!”
“So,” I said, “I guess you could say that it’s important what a person looks for.”
“You got it, my friend,” Stan replied with a smile. “But it’s more than a guess!”
_________________________________
Bible verses to consider:
He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he who searches after evil, it will come to him. Proverbs 11:27.
Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened. Matthew 7:7-8.
Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the truth of seeking and finding. Thank you, too, for the people you brought into my life to show me that I was seeking the wrong things (the world, the flesh, and the devil), and not seeking the right things (you and your kingdom). I confess that too often I do not seek all that you have for me, but I seek after things that can take me away from you. Please forgive that foolish way of living the life you have given me. And please, Father, help me in following every step of your lead so I truly seek only you and only what you have for me in every aspect of my being. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you sought and found God as well as the life eternally with Him He has for you when your time here is completed? If no, why have you not accepted His free and gracious gift of salvation and redemption? If you do have the assurance of knowing you will live eternally in God’s presence when it’s time, how are you doing in what you seek on this side of eternity? Do you believe that you will find what you seek, and that it’s important to be seeking the right things? Why or why not? If you sense the need to change what you are seeking, how is that going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 