What Are You Looking For?

3

This is Day 1 of Lent, the forty days of preparation leading up to Easter. A quick check of the Wikipedia entry will give you some helpful background. Note that in the Western tradition, Lent starts today with Ash Wednesday and continues until Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. Sundays are not counted as part of the forty days because each Sunday is meant to be a mini-Easter remembrance.In the evangelical wing of the church, we’re never sure what to do about Lent. Mostly we have ignored it. But there always something to be said for preparing our hearts for big events. And Easter is the ultimate Big Event.

This year I’ve decided to focus on questions, either the questions people asked of Jesus or about Jesus or the questions Jesus himself asked. In reading through the gospels, I have been amazed at how many questions they contain. We can’t begin to cover to them all so in these next few weeks leading up to Easter, we will focus on questions that get to some core issues of the spiritual life.

Let’s begin today with a question Jesus asked to two of the earliest disciples.

“What are you looking for?" (John 1:38)

His first question was not about sin or righteousness.
It wasn’t about his own identity. That would come later.

It was not accusatory or hostile.
His first question was an invitation.

I think the question caught the disciples off guard. Jesus had a habit of doing that. He often asked questions not to gather information but to get people to think. 

As we start this Lenten journey that will lead us all the way to Easter Sunday, we should ask ourselves the same question: “What am I looking for?”

If you aren’t sure about the answer, that’s okay. Jesus told the first disciples to “come and see” (John 1:39). He says the same to us today. Verse 40 says they spent the day with him. That same invitation is for us too. 

Our desires hold great power because they shape our destiny. What do you need that only the Lord can provide? 

If we dare to say we are looking for Jesus, he will invite us to come and spend the day with him. 

Lord, as we begin this Lenten journey, purify our hearts so that we will not be satisfied with anything less than you. Amen. 

*Screen Name:
Question or comment:
	This is a private message or question
	Notify me of follow up comments via e-mail
	* denotes required field

Visitor Comments:

February 18, 2010, 6:53 PM Patrick Sullivan says:
British / Australian . Retired Pastor. Hospital Chaplain. Creator and Webmaster of www.jesuschristonly.com	Hi Ray A quote from Down Under on Lent .... “When I was a schoolboy, my great Jesuit mentor, Father Costello, said that it was much better to do something positive in Lent than to give something up."And he said that we shouldn’t have a hair shirt mentality where we were against the good things of life - we should have a heroic mindset where we went out to try to make the most of life.” Australian Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott . Bring back the old time preachers (1920 to 1940) that encouraged us to an ‘Heroic mindset’ Pat
February 21, 2010, 1:04 PM butch88 says:
	This is very good. First of all is because I asked my self , what is my motive? is it for my own purpose? As I kept on reading , I came across my own answer, Am I seeking his Glory or mine? As your prayer stated, PURIFY OUR HEARTS SO THAT WE WILL NOT BE SATIFIED WITH ANYTHING LESS THAN YOU, AMEN TO THAT! To Mr. Patrick Sullivan, thanks, what a great idea as TO DO something positive RATHER than to give up something. That is new to me——thanks
February 21, 2010, 4:04 PM Rohan Sahabandu says:
	I am glad to see something of different being discussed. This enables us to think outside the box as for many of us it to give up our favorite food or the TV program during the lent. Thank you Ray, for directing us towards the cross with an open mind!