Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.”
—1 Samuel 16:11
And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?”
—2 Samuel 9:1
“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”
—Jeremiah 29:13
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow...”
“...seek, and you will find...”
—Matthew 6:33-34a, 7:7b
Seeking seems to have a kind of intensity or urgency that goes beyond simply looking for something. A person might look for a parking spot or look for a good pie recipe. But that same person might seek shelter in a storm or seek medical attention after a fall.
Of course, different people use words differently. But even if the examples seem a little picky, we all understand the difference between casually looking and diligently seeking. When we're seeking, the outcome matters, and we're willing to give other things a lower priority or even put them on hold.
Samuel was on a quest to find the next king of Israel. It's interesting that the Lord told Samuel to go to a specific town and family, but didn't tell him which son until David was standing right in front of Samuel. And the outcome was important enough to be worth the wait.
Years later, David's faithfulness to the memory of Jonathan prompted him to seek an opportunity to show kindness. To him it was worth the effort.
In one of Israel's lowest times, Jeremiah delivered the Lord's message of encouragement to a people in exile, people who may have felt disconnected from God. That message anticipated the good news proclaimed by the one who fulfilled all prophecies: “Seek...and you will find.”
There is an intensity about seeking the Lord and His strength and His presence. Because it matters.
Yet, even though it is important and intense, Jesus Himself said that it is not a matter of anxiety. Because He wants to be found.
Seek
Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his presence continually!
—Psalm 105:4
Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.”
—1 Samuel 16:11
And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?”
—2 Samuel 9:1
“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”
—Jeremiah 29:13
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow...”
“...seek, and you will find...”
—Matthew 6:33-34a, 7:7b
Seeking seems to have a kind of intensity or urgency that goes beyond simply looking for something. A person might look for a parking spot or look for a good pie recipe. But that same person might seek shelter in a storm or seek medical attention after a fall.
Of course, different people use words differently. But even if the examples seem a little picky, we all understand the difference between casually looking and diligently seeking. When we're seeking, the outcome matters, and we're willing to give other things a lower priority or even put them on hold.
Samuel was on a quest to find the next king of Israel. It's interesting that the Lord told Samuel to go to a specific town and family, but didn't tell him which son until David was standing right in front of Samuel. And the outcome was important enough to be worth the wait.
Years later, David's faithfulness to the memory of Jonathan prompted him to seek an opportunity to show kindness. To him it was worth the effort.
In one of Israel's lowest times, Jeremiah delivered the Lord's message of encouragement to a people in exile, people who may have felt disconnected from God. That message anticipated the good news proclaimed by the one who fulfilled all prophecies: “Seek...and you will find.”
There is an intensity about seeking the Lord and His strength and His presence. Because it matters.
Yet, even though it is important and intense, Jesus Himself said that it is not a matter of anxiety. Because He wants to be found.