Seeking
Originally scheduled for April 1
Proverbs 11:27 NIV
He who seeks good finds goodwill, but evil comes to him who
searches for it.
You have probably experienced this variant of
Murphy's Law: whenever you go looking for something, it's always in
the last place you look for it. True, right? But there is some
variation to it:
·
It depends on
what you seek. Things that are quiet are harder to find.
·
It also depends on
why you seek it. If you're looking for something to make sure it's
in a spot where it won't be seen, you don't really have to find it.
·
How you seek matters also.
A diligent search usually produces results long before a casual one.
·
Of course, where you seek makes an
enormous difference.
Solomon tells us here that those who seek good,
find it. We might indeed ask the same set of questions for
Christians:
·
What do we seek? Forgiveness.
·
Why do we seek it? Because we are
sinners. We need it.
·
Where do we seek it? At the one place
where it can be found: the Cross.
The hard part, of course, is how we seek it.
But in the Beatitudes our Lord gives us the answer: those who have a
pure heart can see God. Forgiveness for sinners must be sought at
the Cross — but sought with a pure heart.
Communion, in a way, is a reminder of that
search. We are taught to examine ourselves at communion, which is a
reminder that we are sinners. As we are sinners, we must recognize
that fact and seek forgiveness. Communion reminds us of that
forgiveness, and it reminds us of the cost of that forgiveness — the
Cross. Therefore, heed the words of the Scripture: examine yourself.
Seek God while he may be found; seek him with a pure heart.
