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Who is Seeking Whom?
Pastor Linda DeBoer

In the early 80’s, when America had gotten its first glimpses of MTV, home videos, and a taste for living on the edge, Madonna starred a movie that became wildly famous. It was called, “Desperately Seeking Susan.” The film was about a man who had a one night stand with a woman and was desperately trying to find her again through the personals of a newspaper. The plot also includes a bored housewife who had been tracking his attempts to find his long lost lover, fantasizing about what it would be like to be this pursued woman. Eventually, she too became caught up in the chase. Although I don’t remember much about the movie, (and now as a Christian I wouldn’t choose to see it again) I do remember the extreme lengths these people went to, in order to find Susan.

The word I want to focus on today is, “Seek.” There are a number of synonyms one could use to describe what it means to seek. It means to look for, scout out, sift through, or search for that thing that they want to find. In extreme cases when someone is desperately seeking, the person may stalk, track down, pursue, chase, or run after that something in order to obtain it. It’s a verb that implies more than just casually looking for something or someone. It indicates that the object of desired is of importance or value.

God Has Always Been In Hot Pursuit of Us

Since we are the crowning masterpiece of God’s creation, made in his image, and created for his glory, we are of great value! The word “seek” is used in the Bible over 200 times! I don’t believe this is simply a matter of semantics. I believe that the writers who used the term seek, were inspired by the Holy Spirit to do so to emphasize the passion involved in the act. The idea was to be in “hot pursuit.”

The Bible is very clear about who is seeking whom.

Luke 19: 9-10 And Jesus said unto him, “This day has salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and save that which was lost.

Romans 5:8 But God commended his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners he died for us.

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which has sent me draw him.

John 15:16 You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain.

I John 4:10/19 Herein is love, not that we love God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. We love him, because he first loved us.

Deuteronomy 30:4 Though you are at the ends of the earth, the Lord your God will go and find you and bring you back again.

A Trilogy of Seeking and Finding

In Luke 15, the entire chapter is devoted to illustrating the concept of God being in hot pursuit of his people. Jesus told these stories to all who were gathered around him. The passage tells us it was a mixed crowd of publicans, sinners, Pharisees, and scribes. His message was meant for those who didn’t understand their value to God or his plan to redeem them.

If all three parables are read in one sitting, God’s heart to seek and save the lost is clear. The first is a story about a man who had one hundred sheep and one turns up missing. The man leaves the other ninety-nine sheep in his flock to goes to search for the one which is lost. He is determined to seek out the sheep, “until he finds it.” He is not willing to just let it go, but is persistent in his effort to recover what was his. When he finds the sheep he lifts it onto his shoulders and calls his friends and neighbors to rejoice with him.

In the same way, when the women with ten coins loses one coin in her house, she lights a candle, sweeps the house, and diligently searches for the coin “until she finds it.” She is diligent in her seeking. That coin is of great value to her and she is willing to sift through the dirt and light on the dark places of her house in order to find that one coin. My translation of the Bible says that the coin was worth only forty-four cents! Now which of us would scrounge through the house for such a small amount? We might think that it’s not worth the effort, but she did. Then she called together her friends and neighbors to celebrate with her as well.

The third parable is the most famous of the three. It is the story about the prodigal son. As you probably know, the younger son takes his inheritance and squanders it on wild living. He seeks the wrong things in life and ends up in a pigsty, wallowing in more than self-pity. He comes to his senses, repents and goes back home in order to seek a job as a servant, and obtain his father’s forgiveness. The father in the parable, is not actively seeking out his son or his whereabouts, but is certainly hoping and watching for the day of his son’s return. Once it is clear that the son is seeking to take the first steps in restoration, the father runs to meet the son and embraces him before he can even apologize. This represents God the Father, who loves and values his children and is always seeking to restore them to a right relationship with him.

God is very patient with people because of his great love for them. He is always seeking to draw them close to him and give them eternal life through Christ. He always seeks us, even when we’re playing hide and seek with him.

II Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count as slackness; but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.

We must realize that God is being patient with us, but that at some point, the seeking will come to an end and Christ will return. Then, there will be no more time to seek him. Satan knows this too, and is also seeking to keep people from a relationship with Christ.

Satan Also Pursues Us

Since we are heirs of God’s promise of salvation, Satan has a stake in trying to keep us from our realizing our destiny as God’s children. The Bible tells us:

I Peter 5:8 Be sober and vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour.

Sometimes Satan uses a personal issue such as pride, envy, or selfishness to keep us from seeking God, or receiving God’s invitation to us.  King Herod told the Wiseman to search diligently to find baby Jesus, so he could later kill him and retain his power as king (Matthew 2:8).  Saul was desperately seeking David, and even took 3000 men to chase him down and kill him (I Samuel 24:2).  The Pharisees were seeking a sign that Jesus was who he claimed to be, but in their hearts they didn’t really want to know. Their pride and envy prevented them from seeking the truth about Jesus (Matthew 12:39 and Matthew 16:4).

Philippians 2:21- For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.

Will Satan tempt us into seeking the things that please us, or will we diligently seek “until we find” God?

Whom Will We Seek?

If we want to live long and prosper, first and foremost we should seek to be in right relationship with Our Father, God. He is the one who knows you intimately, who has a good plan and a purpose for your life, and who will bring it to completion as you walk with Him.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me.

Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from thence you shall seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

II Chronicles 7:14 If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn fro their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sins, and will heal their land.

What Are Jesus’ Instructions To Us?

1. We are not to worry about the details of our lives, but to have confidence that God already knows our situation and will provide what we need.

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the Kindgom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

2. We are to seek to worship the Father. This is sweet music in his ears. He inhabits the praise of his people as they worship him and he draw close to them.

John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and the hour is now, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

3. We are to seek righteousness and holiness.

Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on the things above, not on the things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

4. We should seek the Baptism of the Spirit as the gift promised by Christ.

Luke 11:9 &13 And I say unto you, Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and the door shall be opened unto you. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

5. Seek to be like our Savior, Jesus, in both our words and our actions. Jesus’ mission in life was to seek to do the will of the Father. This should be our mission as well.

I Corinthians 14:12- Even so, forasmuch as you desire Spiritual gifts, seek that you may excel to the edifying of the church.

John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hast sent me.

Seeking God is the most important thing we will ever do.

Everyone who seeks will find!

Website Revised: 10/22/2010.  Copyright © 2005 [Susan Bottger Ministries]. All rights reserved.