What Are You Looking For?

"But when Jesus turned around and saw them following, He asked them, "What are you looking for?"   John 1:38a NIV

Have you ever asked yourself the same question? I know I have...many times...like, when I go from one room to another in search of something...I often have to stop and ask myself..."Now why did I come into this room? What was I looking for?"  Please tell me I am not alone.  Just a few minutes ago I went in search of my glass of water. At least I remembered what I was looking for...I just couldn't remember where I had left it.  After retracing my steps throughout the house, rethinking all of the places I'd been and what I'd been doing over the past hour or so since I last took a sip...(of water)...I finally discovered it on a shelf in the sunporch

next to the rocking chair that I was GOING to sit on while I talked with a friend on the phone, but as I recall now I decided to go outside and sit on the new front porch while I chatted, and apparently left my water behind. 

I've been talking quite a bit about the word "FOCUS" lately...my new One Word for 2015...and obviously it is an action word that I need to learn to do.  

Today's devotional reading and later Bible study in our home this morning "focused" on the theme of following Christ...as seen in John's Gospel, chapter one and verses 24-49.  Jesus noticed two of John the Baptist's disciples following Him, and in verse 38 it says that Jesus turned, "and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?"...or, "What are you looking for?".  The disciples said that they wanted to know where He was staying...and Jesus said to them, "Come and see."  (verse 39).  Then these disciples went out and invited others to come and see Christ, as they discovered that He was in fact "The Messiah".  (verse 41).  Throughout the rest of these verses several others joined the group as Jesus simply said to them "Follow Me," and they did.  So simple...and yet so profound.

Today I have asked myself the question, "What are you looking for?" as if Jesus Himself was asking me.  Perhaps He is asking me, "Where are you focusing your attention?...Is it on Me? Do you want to follow Me? Or are you seeking something else?"... 

Hubby enjoying the new porch

We've been focusing a lot of attention on getting our house in order...new porch, new roof, new kitchen cabinets...

Cabinets, BEFORE

Cabinets AFTER (work done by my son)

And these things in themselves are not bad...they were all much needed home improvements...and God provided the way...But I've had to stop and ask myself the question, "What are you looking for?"  Where is your focus?  Is it on these nice new things...or is it on Jesus, the One Who is calling me to follow Him?  

In the past several months God has been leading us to begin a Bible fellowship in our home on Sunday mornings.  Already we are seeing God blessing this venture with new people coming to our home who needed a place to worship and study God's Word in a non-threatening, personal small group.  I could say that we are getting our house in order to be better equipped to provide this place of worship, and that would be true.  But I don't want to get my eyes off of the purpose for the gathering place so that I focus on the place instead of the purpose. I don't want to misplace my focus.  

Lord, Help me to seek YOU in all that I do each day.  May our home be a place that is centered on YOU...and not just centered on being a place.   Thank you for helping me to refocus my sights on YOU today. Amen.