Searching But Not Finding

 

Searching But Not Finding

Acts 28: ²³ They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus. ²⁴ Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. ²⁵ They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet:

 

²⁶ “‘Go to this people and say,
“You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
    you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
²⁷ For this people’s heart has become calloused;
    they hardly hear with their ears,
    and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
    hear with their ears,
    understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.

 

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Angrily, I stormed off from “those” people. They said the wrong thing again. When I got to the next group, I was okay for a while, but that group started acting the same as the other group. I got angry and stormed off from “those” people. When I got to the third group I said. “I will stay here no matter what.” This group seemed to act different.

 

• There were times when I was searching for problems and found them.
• There were times when I was searching for what is wrong and found it.
• There were times when I was searching for peace but could not find it because I found problems and only could see what was wrong.

 

The church leaders decided to meet with Paul and brought a large number with them. Some were looking for answers and others were looking for an argument. Both groups found what they were looking for, but one group did not get what they wanted. They overlooked the answer that would bring them peace.

 

• GOD says to me “See ME with your eyes.”
• GOD says to me “Hear ME with your ears.”
• GOD says to me “Understand ME with your heart.”

 

When I look for problems with other people, I don’t have to look very long. I mean their flaws jump out immediately. BUT GOD looks at the person differently. HE sees a creation HE made and said “Well done.” When I look at that person through sin filled, hurt eyes, I can search for something I want to see, but will not find it.

 

But when I ask GOD to heal my eyes, I can see what HE sees in “that” person. When I ask GOD to truly speak to me, I can hear the comfort HE wants me to give to “those” people. And when I ask GOD to change “me” I can understand with my heart what I must do. I am grateful GOD gives me another chance to be healed by HIM.

 

• What are you searching for in someone but not finding?
• Are you ready to leave a group because “they” are not acting right?
• Will you ask GOD to open your eyes, ears and heart to HIM so HE can heal you without expecting “them” to change?

Fresh

Fresh

Acts 13: ³⁴ God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said,

“‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’

³⁵ So it is also stated elsewhere:

“‘You will not let your holy one see decay.’

³⁶ “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. ³⁷ But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.

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Opening the refrigerator was sometimes an adventure. Once, the stench was so strong, I wanted to move rather than deal with it. I opened the vegetable bin and saw the decaying remains of an unidentifiable substance that was either cheese or a tomato or green beans at one time. Now it had hair and a terrible smell.

• I have held onto some items too long and they rotted.
• I have held onto some items too long and they decayed.
• I have held onto some items too long and they got old, ripped up, dented, broken, or decomposed.

Paul quotes David when speaking about JESUS. He spoke to the people in the synagogue, telling them that JESUS saw no decay. HIS body was raised from the dead and will never see rot or decay or corruption.

• GOD wants me to believe in the One who was raised.
• GOD wants me to put my trust in the Being who lives forever.
• GOD wants me to hold onto the everlasting.

Instead of looking for something fresh and new, JESUS wants me to seek the everlasting. All of my gadgets will be obsolete next week. The food I grow or purchase will rot. The clothes I cherish today will be eaten by moths tomorrow. BUT GOD’s love is everlasting. JESUS is where I put my trust.

• What are you seeking?
• Are you constantly looking for something new to make you happy?
• Will you look to JESUS as your everlasting source of power today?

Searching for Treasure

Luke 15: ⁸ “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹ And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ ¹⁰ Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

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“What is that?” I said to myself as I peered at the cluttered lawn on my way to school. It looked like money so I broke the rule of not stepping on anyone’s grass. To my excitement, I found a dollar! I quickly stuffed it in my pocket and smiled all the way to class. The next day I stared intently in the lawn and the day after and the weeks after that.

• Three were times when money caught my attention.
• There were times when I got a little bit of money and it made me search for more.
• There were times when money made me look for it, seek it and desire to have more of it.

JESUS deepens HIS explanation of lost people by giving another parable. HE illustrates how a woman spent a great amount of time looking for lost money in her house. This analogy was probably used to make the people hear because most could relate to losing money. But money was not the true treasure.

• GOD wants me to focus on HIM as the true treasure.
• GOD wants me to seek HIS kingdom as the true treasure.
• GOD wants me to bring HIS lost sheep and lost coins back to HIM as the true treasure.

People are clearly the true treasure GOD wants everyone to focus on. Those I hate, HE loves so somehow I need to quickly change my mind about what is important. HE values all lives and the more I can do the same the more treasure HE gives me. Prayers and preaching for more cash is sometimes okay, BUT GOD is elated when I ask for healing of my and other’s souls.

• Are you down because you don’t have money?
• Do you seek more things to make you happy?
• Will you take the time to seek GOD’s true treasure which are HIS lost children today?

Heart of All

Matthew 18: ¹⁰ “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. ¹¹ For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.

¹² “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? ¹³ And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. ¹⁴ Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

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Looking around I could see no familiar faces. I panicked and began crying as I had no way to get myself “found.” People came over to me and led me to an office, but this provided no comfort. I was noticed, but not “found.”

• It is scary being lost.
• It is terrifying being in an unknown place where it seems to be no way out.
• It is horrifying to be lost with no means to be found.

Humanity can be the same way. Many situations can seem so overwhelming to me that I feel “lost” with no way out. BUT GOD has an answer for that.

• GOD sees me when I am in need and answers prayer before I even ask.
• GOD knows my every fear and guides me out of the darkness.
• GOD understands when I am lost and seeks me before I seek him.

I should never pretend that I am not lost when it comes to GOD. Admitting I have no idea how to be found is a start, but doesn’t do anything if no one is looking for me. GOD decided to search for me in my “lost” state. HE tapped on my heart to show me the way. It was up to me to follow HIM back to a place where it was safe. I rejoice over GOD’s search for me!

• Are you lost?
• Do you think you know your own way?
• Can you let go and allow GOD to lead you back to HIM?

What to Look For

Zephaniah 2: ³ Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land,
    you who do what he commands.
Seek righteousness, seek humility;
    perhaps you will be sheltered
    on the day of the Lord’s anger.

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What does it mean to “Seek first the Kingdom of GOD?” I mean don’t I have to eat and pay bills first? I remember sitting on an airplane and hearing them say “Put your oxygen mask on first before helping someone else with theirs.” Shouldn’t I get what’s mine first?

• Sometimes I think of finances before I think of GOD.
• Sometimes I think of people with titles before I think of GOD.
• Sometimes I think of my wellbeing before I think of GOD.

With all of the busy-ness the world has to offer, I can get distracted. I can get into a seemingly innocent path of becoming so busy that I never once look up to see something special. When the winds of life blow against me I get frightened and then I look for GOD to mop up all the mess I’m in. How can I get out of this rut?

• GOD says to me “Seek righteousness” and since no human is righteous I need to seek GOD.
• GOD says to me “Seek humility” and since my heart is desperately wicked I need to seek GOD’s heart.
• GOD says to me “Seek MY kingdom first” and since HE owns everything I need to bow to HIM daily before my day starts.

There is nothing GOD places on me that is too hard for me. HE doesn’t command that I become a title or live in fame rather HE simply wants me to follow HIM in HIS righteousness and humility. Seeking GOD means I am looking for HIM on a daily basis. In my hunt for fame and fortune I must ask GOD “Is this what YOU want for me?”

Serving money and GOD cannot ever mix. I cannot mask my intentions by pretending to serve church folks when I really want their monetary gain. I must truly desire that people get to know GOD, end of story. Seeking GOD as my teacher enables me to learn forever!

• What are you seeking?
• Are you mad that you are not getting your way?
• Can you stop pouting and start learning from GOD today?
• Will you seek GOD’s heart before yours?

Search While I Can

Amos 7: ¹¹ “The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord,
    “when I will send a famine through the land—
not a famine of food or a thirst for water,
    but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.
¹² People will stagger from sea to sea
    and wander from north to east,
searching for the word of the Lord,
    but they will not find it.

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Nervous about “street witnessing” I went out into the neighborhood. “What will I say?”, “Who will listen?” were a couple of questions that came to mind. We came to the door of a man who showed me he was wearing a probation ankle bracelet. He did this in response to my question “Would you like to come to our church?”

Suddenly I was thrust into having to share the message of CHRIST’s salvation to a stranger. We talked for a while and he said “I believe that CHRIST died for my sins. I have a lot of ‘em.” A couple of weeks later I went to check back on him. His neighbors told me he had been shot and killed.

• Sometimes I think I have all the time in the world.
• Sometimes I think I can simply point people to church instead of opening my mouth.
• Sometimes I think GOD is taking HIS time so I do not have to act with a sense of urgency.

When I pass neighbors and strangers on my way to church, I fail to wonder if someone on my route needs to hear a special message about GOD. In fact I have worked in crowded places and talked to hundreds of people in a single day without talking about GOD. What should I be doing?

• GOD wants me to take some time out to speak about HIM.
• GOD wants me to tell people about HIS SON’s voluntary sacrifice that saved me eternally.
• GOD wants me to act with a sense of urgency on a daily basis because I may never see “that” person who I am arguing with again.

There will come a day where the earth will long for the messages of GOD. It is up to me to take the message to those who need to hear it. GOD says to me “The harvest is plenty but the laborers are few.” My mind needs to be focused on GOD as much as possible because the days are short.

• Are you nervous about speaking about GOD?
• Do you find yourself asking GOD for money, yet have not spoken about HIS SON’s gift to you?
• Will you act with a sense of urgency and speak to people about CHRIST today?

Looking in the Right Place

Psalm 123: ¹ I lift up my eyes to you,
    to you who sit enthroned in heaven.
² As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master,
    as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the Lord our God,
    till he shows us his mercy.

³ Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us,
    for we have endured no end of contempt.
⁴ We have endured no end
    of ridicule from the arrogant,
    of contempt from the proud.

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One request and one request alone is what I noticed in this passage, “Have mercy on us.” The writer of this Psalm describes the people who are in prayer as “slaves” which I find interesting as well. Here is what I pondered.

• I should look at GOD from a different viewpoint of being elevated instead of being on the same plane.
• I should look to heaven for my cure rather than those around me.
• I should look at my approach to GOD subtracting demands and adding humility.

The request from the writer was not specific at all. It did not have a timeframe, a dollar amount nor a person to get rid of. It just says “Have mercy on us.” This takes all of the control out of the prayer and puts it in GOD’s mighty hand.

• GOD do what YOU will, but show us YOUR mercy.
• GOD flex YOUR might, but show us YOUR mercy.
• GOD provide in YOUR way, but show us YOUR mercy.

Arrogance and pride are the contempt of the LORD. HE threw Satan out of heaven because of Satan’s pride. GOD sees the seed of HIS deliverance and it cannot contain my arrogance upon reception. I cannot boast or brag that I deserve GOD’s deliverance, I can only say “HE had mercy on me.”

I know I have heard the preachers say “GOD is your friend” and “JESUS is my brother” but I am careful to know I need to lift them up and treat the FATHER, SON and HOLY SPIRIT with respect rather than any old way. The right place to look at GOD is “up” for HE knows every situation and is in control.

• Are you treating GOD as common?
• Do you think HE is against you?
• Will you elevate GOD to the right place and let HIM “show HIS mercy” on you?
• Will you drop all arrogance and pride and flow with HIS plan?