Midweek Devotion: Seeking Christ

John 6:24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus. (NIV)

              Years ago, I was looking for an old recording of a conversation that I had with some dear friends which took place at a local radio station where I once hosted a weekly religious program. One of them had just died and I wanted to hear his voice again, as well as the remarkable story of his life which he shared with me and the radio listeners. I hunted high and low in my home, my study, my garage, and church office, but sadly I didn’t come across the CD recording. I know that I put it somewhere safe, so I’ll probably discover it when I’m searching for something else. Until then, I’ll just have to rely on the memories I have of my friend and all of the good times we shared.

              In today’s Gospel verse, the people are looking for Jesus, but He is nowhere to be found. The previous day, He had miraculously fed 5000 people, which made the crowd want to crown Him as their king. When they discovered that Jesus had gone elsewhere, they set out on their boats and sailed up to Capernaum where He usually resided. I’d like to think they were looking for Christ for all of the right reasons, but I suspect human nature being what it is, they were mostly looking for more miraculous free food.

              This Gospel incident has caused me to reflect on my own search for Jesus. Have I been seeking Him for all the right reasons, or do I have some selfish desires which I want Christ to fulfill? Am I looking to Jesus to straighten out my problems, overcome my difficulties, and fix my issues, or am I just humbly seeking to serve Him because He is my Lord and King? I hope and pray that it has more to do with the latter.

Point to ponder

Am I looking for Jesus to do something in my life, or am I seeking to do something for Him?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are the Lord of our lives and the King of all Creation. We are supposed to be Your servants and faithful followers. Help us to seek Your will in all we set out to accomplish and experience today. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

Short Devotion: Looking for Approval

John 5:44 How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?

We sadly live in narcissistic times where people look for affirmation from those who hold the same views politically, religiously, and morally. Sometimes our inability to discern what is true and factual can only be eased by seeking approval and reassurance from our peers. We all want to be accepted by others, especially those who do not question our strong opinions or deride our unconfirmed notions. We build a wall around our thoughts and ideas in order to shield us from the blatant truth about corrupt leaders, gaslighting liars, and greedy people. In other words, we look for approval in all the wrong places, instead of seeking the real source of affirmation that is good for our well-being: divine praise and assurance from God.

The old confessions of faith revealed to us the chief purpose of humankind - to glorify God and enjoy creation forever. This is what today’s verse from John's Gospel is all about. Jesus was telling His people, as well as us, that they were misguided because they revolved their lives being lauded by other people when, in reality, the main purpose of life is to worship God and so be eternally blessed. According to Christ, whenever we misappropriate divine approval or attach it to someone or something else, we rob God of glory and praise, honor and devotion.

So, whatever we set out to do this week, let’s try to fulfill our divine purpose by not seeking praise, compliments, or approval from other like-minded people, but rather let’s look for opportunities to glorify God with our deeds and thus be praised by the Lord for our dedicated service and personal commitment.

Point to ponder: What am I doing today that will honor, praise, and please God?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, our lives belong to You because You redeemed us with Your blood and eternally claimed us through Your sacrifice. Enable us to honor You this day by glorifying God in what we think, say, and do. In Your Holy Name, we humbly and gladly pray. Amen.

Pastor John