Keep on seeking, and you will find. - Matthew 7:7 NLT
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. - Psalm 42:1 ESV
I was reading a book by Alfred Edersheim. He explains the qualifications required to become a pharisee in the days of Jesus Christ.
Pharisees are highly respected religious leaders during the time of Jesus. To become a pharisee, a person has to memorize the first five books of the Bible by the age of 15.
Then, he moves to Jerusalem to find a good teacher, such as Gamaliel, and study the rest of the Old Testament under the teacher. By the age of 30, an aspiring pharisee completes the entire Old Testament.
The Old Testament in today's regular print is at least 1000 pages long. It is amazing to know someone memorized the Old Testament before the age of 30.
What astonished me more was not their memorizing skills; after studying and learning the Bible so much, they still could not understand and identify Jesus as Jesus. They identified Jesus as a teacher or a prophet and could not accept Him as a savior.
On the other hand, a thief who was hanging next to Jesus could immediately recognize Him as God and Savior. He had never gone to church or read the Bible.
Of the seven words Jesus spoke on the cross, one was exclusively for the thief. The Bible says He (thief) said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And he (Jesus) said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise." - Luke 23:42,43 ESV
How can a pharisee who memorized the entire Bible miss Jesus, but a thief who was far away from Jesus could grasp him so quickly?
The thief sought God humbly, but the Pharisees were confident about their knowledge, upbringing, and qualifications. They were not seeking but self-sufficient with what they had.
Dear friend, you may have known Jesus for many years. You may have memorized the Bible verses and attended church regularly. Are you seeking Him lovingly with all your heart?
When I was 18, I left home to study at a college. As a gift, I received a Bible. While I was packing my suitcase, my mom kept the Bible inside my luggage. I was not interested in taking it.
I kept it outside and told my mom there was not much place left in my suitcase. But my mom kept it inside. I thought I kept the Bible outside again, but I found it in my luggage when I unpacked my stuff in the college hostel.
Since it was a gift, I kept it on my study table. One day, I opened the Bible out of loneliness in the hostel. The person who gifted the Bible wrote this verse on the first page.
"The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces." - Psalm 119:72 ESV.
I went to college searching for Gold and silver, but the first verse hit me hard. I started reading the Bible, and it changed my life.
Indeed, The Bible is more precious than all the Gold and Silver in this world. Reading it with hunger and seeking the Lord will make it more meaningful to us.
Seek, and You will find Him.
When His time came, Jesus started walking from Galilee to Jerusalem. He knew He had to die on the cross to save humanity.
Jesus' mission on earth would not have been fulfilled without the crucifixion. Hence, for the last time on earth, Jesus left Galilee and walked towards Jerusalem.
The Bible says As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. As he entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, crying out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"
- Luke 17:11-13 NLT.
This is Jesus's last journey to Jerusalem before the crucifixion. He is not going to cross the border of Galilee and Samaria again. Because the lepers earnestly sought Him and cried out to Him, Jesus stood there and healed them.
The lepers were considered an outcast. Nobody went closer to them. But Jesus went to them and touched their life because they earnestly sought Him. Are you ready to seek Jesus today? He wants to feel your life, too.
Then Jesus approached Jericho, which is very close to Jerusalem. A blind man (Bartimaeus) was sitting beside the road, and I cried out to him for healing and mercy.
Being blind, he can not travel much to go and meet Jesus. It was the last time Jesus would walk past Jericho. Bartimaeus knew Jesus was the one who could heal him.
When everyone yelled at him to be quiet, he even shouted louder. Jesus heard Him, stopped, and ordered the man to be brought before Him.
Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" "Lord," he said, "I want to see!". And Jesus said, "All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you." Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.
The Bible
Are you hungry for Jesus today? Are you crying out to Him like the blind man? Jesus wants to meet you and wipe away all your tears. You can believe, pray, and be healed like the blind man.
Jesus continued His journey toward Jerusalem. He entered Jericho. The Bible talks about a short man whose name is Zachaeus. He is a tax collector.
The people hated him, and they knew he earned money suppressing others. Zacchaeus came to know about Jesus. He knew Jesus was going to pass through a road. He quickly climbed a tree and sat there.
He was hungry to see Jesus. He had heard a lot about Him. Now, he wanted to meet him. Out of all the people, Jesus called out Zacchaeus' name and went to his home.
Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, "I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!" Jesus responded, "Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham.
Luke 19:8,9 ESV
Are you ready to Search for Jesus today?
Dear friend, are you ready to seek Jesus today? Jesus wants to help you. He wants to bring you out of all your past. He understands your heart.
Shall we seek Him and pray the below prayer from the bottom of our hearts? Jesus is listening to every word you pray. Pray the below prayer in your own words.
Dear Jesus, I come to you with a humble heart. You are my God. Today, I seek you with all my heart. Please come into my life. You have healed Bartimaeus and the ten lepers who were seeking you.
Please heal me from all my spiritual, emotional, and physical illnesses. Fill my life with your peace. You are my God and my Lord. Like Zacchaeus, I invite you to my home.
Please fill my house with your peace. Let your joy overflow in my home. I believe in you. I put all my trust in you. In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Dear friend, we are so happy that you were able to join with us today. Jesus will change your life. Please continue to hold on to Him. May Jesus bless you and make you a blessing for many. Keep in touch.
