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Scripture for the day: John 12:20-21 Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”
Thought for the day: Dr. George Truett said, “The age-long cry of the human race has been for a religion with a revelation of a personal God in it, able and willing to forgive human sin and give rest to human consciences.” In other words, we’re looking for a God who is looking for us; One who not only understands our human condition, but is able to do something about it. Job said, “Oh that I knew where I might find him.” And that has been the cry of so many hearts down through the ages. We look for a God who will take the darkness from our eyes and allow us to understand.
Different people have different motives for wanting to see Jesus. Some come out of curiosity, to see if all those magnificent claims concerning him could possibly be true. Zaccheaeus climbed a tree to see a famous person. Thousands came because they’d heard this Jesus provided loaves and fishes to fill their empty stomachs. Still others approached Jesus because their very souls were in such deep distress and they wondered if he could truly help as so many claimed. And none who came were ever turned away.
He is the only begotten Son of God! Thank God for such a Savior! The “whosoever” of John 3:16 includes the skeptic, the atheist, the doubting Thomas, the most vile of sinners and, yes, even me.
He is more loving than John;
Meeker than Moses
More patient than Job
Has more pity than Jeremiah
Has more wisdom than Solomon
Was a greater preacher than Paul
Had more faith than Abraham
And is more longsuffering than Stephen.
Which of those reasons for finding Jesus defines your journey? These and so many more reasons for seeking him out are all we need to ensure that he will “be found by us.” And where do we find this Jesus?
In Bethlehem we find him as the lowly one, the babe in the manger.
In Jerusalem we find the merciful one who says to all who will listen, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me…”
In Gethsemane we see the suffering one, struggling with his humanity.
On the cross we see the redeeming one, shedding his blood for the redemption of the world.
At the tomb we see the victorious one, triumphant over sin and death and hell.
In heaven we see the glorified one at the right hand of the Father.
In the lives of the redeemed we see him as the Spirit, renewing and reforming every trusting soul into the image of the Father.
We don’t see Jesus with the physical eyes but with a spiritual vision. We see him in the writings of scripture; every time we spend even a few minutes searching for him in the Word. He is the Savior, the Sanctifier, and the One who has promised to keep those who come to Him.
Billy Sunday once stood in front of a bank in Chicago, watching as different people approached. One man arrived in a ten-thousand-dollar car (a lot of money back then). “Who’s that?” he asked.
“That’s Marshall Field Jr., the son of the merchant king, heir to $155,000,000.”
Another came up. “Who is that?” he asked again.
“That is J. Ogden Armour, head of the meat packing family.”
Next he saw a large man walking to the doors of the bank. “Who is that?” he asked.
“That is Stephen Douglas, Jr., the brightest man in the United States Senate,” he was told.
“And who am I?” he asked himself. “I am a son of the Most High God.”
Rejoice in your position in the family of the Most High God. Seek him while he may be found by you.
Now go take on your world. - Bill