SEEKING THE LORD
REASONS FOR SEEKING THE LORD
The Bible says if anyone seek the Lord with all their heart they will find him (Jeremiah 29:13). However, the Bible reveals that only a few seek him with their whole heart (Matthew 22:14). Yet, the Lord desires everyone to seek him with their entire heart, and come to know him as their loving Lord and Savior (Matthew 22:37; John 3:16).
Below are some different reasons people in the Bible sought Jesus, which we may learn from:
PHYSICAL NEEDS
A large number of people followed Jesus from place to place for personal benefits of the miracles he did which no other person was able to do. Jesus healed people from all kinds of incurable physical and mental diseases; cast out tormenting demons; raised people from the dead.
They followed him to a place where he fed over five thousand people with two fish and five loaves of bread. In attempting to change their main focus from their physical needs to their spiritual need, Jesus said, “I am the bread of life”…”This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world”… Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life.” But when Jesus tried to change their focus from using him primarily for their physical needs, to seeing him as their more important spiritual need, many of them left him. (Jesus knew that if they sought him first for their spiritual need, God would add all other things they needed and desired—Matthew 6:33; Psalm 37:4).
Jesus asked the Twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” But the Lord knew that even one of them would betray him for money. (John 6).
MONEY AND POSITION
Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve disciples. But seemingly it became apparent to him that Jesus was not to become a king of Israel as many had thought; and as his disciple he would not come into a position of power beside Jesus. Judas went to the chief priests and asked, “How much will you give me if I help you arrest Jesus?” They paid Judas thirty silver coins,and from then on he started looking for a good chance to betray Jesus.
Judas went with the high priests having a large mob, with swords and clubs to arrest Jesus. “His betrayer had given them a sign: “The One I kiss, He’s the One; arrest Him!” So he went right up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.
“Friend,” Jesus asked him, “why have you come?”
Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested Him
LOVE AND FORGIVENESS
In Luke 7:36-50: When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner”…
44 Knowing the Pharisee’s thoughts, Jesus said to him, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
THE KINGDOM OF GOD
The Lord Jesus said seek first kingdom of God and its righteousness and all other things will be added (Matthew 6:33; Psalm 37:4). Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? (Matthews 6:26) Think of how you would prioritize the things below in seeking the Lord?
- Repent and believe in Jesus
- Obey God’s commandments
- Become more like Jesus
- Food, clothing, shelter
- Health
- Money
- Recognition
