Advent Wk 3 2025-The Gift of Seeking
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The Gift of Seeking: Discovering God's Presence in Our Lives
There's a persistent misunderstanding in our culture about God—that He's distant, far removed from our daily lives. Perhaps you've heard Him referred to as "the man upstairs" or "the guy in the sky," as if He set creation in motion and then stepped back to watch from afar. But this couldn't be further from the truth revealed in Scripture.
The reality is far more beautiful and intimate: God actively desires a relationship with us. He has woven into the very fabric of creation pathways for us to discover Him, and He's placed within each human heart an innate curiosity that drives us toward Him.
Created to Seek
Consider this remarkable truth: the word "religion" comes from the Latin religare, meaning "to bind together." At its core, faith is about binding us together with God—about pursuit, discovery, and relationship. This isn't coincidental. God created us with an internal compass that points toward Him, even when we don't fully understand what we're searching for.
Throughout Scripture, we see God revealing Himself through creation, through His Word, through circumstances, and through divine appointments. Romans tells us that since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities have been clearly seen through what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Creation itself is designed to make us curious about the Creator.
The Journey of the Magi
The story of the Magi beautifully illustrates this divine dance between God's revelation and human seeking. These were spiritual seekers, people hungry for truth and understanding. When they saw an unusual star in the sky, their curiosity was piqued. This wasn't random—God placed that star as a sign, a divine breadcrumb leading them toward the greatest discovery of their lives.
What's remarkable about the Magi is their response. They didn't simply observe the star and continue with their daily routines. They disrupted their entire lives, leaving behind their work and comfort to pursue what the star might mean. They asked questions. They sought answers. They traveled to Jerusalem, inquired of King Herod, consulted with religious leaders, and ultimately found their way to the Christ child.
Matthew 2:1-12 tells us that when they discovered Jesus, they were overjoyed. They bowed down and worshiped Him, presenting gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But the story doesn't end there. God spoke to them in a dream, warning them not to return to Herod, and they obeyed—changing their route and, likely, the entire trajectory of their lives.
The Promise of Discovery
Jesus made an extraordinary promise: "Seek and you will find." This isn't a vague platitude—it's a guarantee. Matthew 7:7-8 expands on this: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."
God doesn't play hide and seek. He isn't trying to make discovery difficult or impossible. Instead, He's actively working in your life, placing signs and opportunities that invite you to draw closer. The question isn't whether God is available—it's whether we have a seeker's heart.
What Does Seeking Look Like?
True seeking requires action. It means being willing to disrupt your routine, to step away from the familiar, to pursue truth even when it's uncomfortable or inconvenient. The shepherds in the Christmas story left their flocks. The Magi left their homeland. Both responded to God's invitation by moving toward Him.
Seeking involves:
Asking questions. Don't be satisfied with surface-level understanding. Dig deeper. Wonder. Be curious about God, His character, His purposes, and His Word.
Being willing to change. When you discover truth, are you prepared to let it transform you? The Magi didn't return to Herod because they trusted what God revealed to them. Discovery should lead to obedience.
Taking steps. Even small ones. There's an old gospel song with the line, "If you go one step, I'll come all the way." God doesn't require perfection—He asks for movement in His direction.
Setting priorities. Sometimes seeking God means putting other things aside. It might mean saying no to certain pursuits, relationships, or habits that distract from your pursuit of Him.
The Danger of Going Through the Motions
Perhaps the greatest obstacle to genuine seeking is comfortable complacency. It's possible to attend church regularly, own a Bible, know religious language, and still never truly seek God. Going through the motions isn't the same as having a seeker's heart.
If we keep doing the same things, we'll get the same results. Real discovery requires us to be willing to shake things up, to let God disrupt our carefully constructed lives. That can be frightening—we don't know where He'll lead or what He'll ask of us. But the promise remains: those who seek will find.
A Contagious Pursuit
When you genuinely begin seeking God with hunger and passion, something remarkable happens. Others notice. Your pursuit becomes contagious. They begin asking, "What are you looking for? I want to discover that too." This is how revival begins—not through programs or strategies, but through hearts genuinely hungry for God.
The Invitation
God has already done His part. He's revealed Himself through creation, through Scripture, through the life and sacrifice of Jesus, and through the ongoing work of His Spirit. He's placed within you a desire to know Him. The star is shining. The invitation is extended.
The question that remains is deeply personal: Do you have a seeker's heart? Are you willing to pursue God with the same determination as the Magi? Will you let curiosity lead you to Christ?
The gift of seeking is available to everyone. But like any gift, it must be unwrapped, received, and acted upon. God promises that if you seek Him, you will find Him. The journey may transform your life in ways you never imagined—and that's exactly the point.
There's a persistent misunderstanding in our culture about God—that He's distant, far removed from our daily lives. Perhaps you've heard Him referred to as "the man upstairs" or "the guy in the sky," as if He set creation in motion and then stepped back to watch from afar. But this couldn't be further from the truth revealed in Scripture.
The reality is far more beautiful and intimate: God actively desires a relationship with us. He has woven into the very fabric of creation pathways for us to discover Him, and He's placed within each human heart an innate curiosity that drives us toward Him.
Created to Seek
Consider this remarkable truth: the word "religion" comes from the Latin religare, meaning "to bind together." At its core, faith is about binding us together with God—about pursuit, discovery, and relationship. This isn't coincidental. God created us with an internal compass that points toward Him, even when we don't fully understand what we're searching for.
Throughout Scripture, we see God revealing Himself through creation, through His Word, through circumstances, and through divine appointments. Romans tells us that since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities have been clearly seen through what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Creation itself is designed to make us curious about the Creator.
The Journey of the Magi
The story of the Magi beautifully illustrates this divine dance between God's revelation and human seeking. These were spiritual seekers, people hungry for truth and understanding. When they saw an unusual star in the sky, their curiosity was piqued. This wasn't random—God placed that star as a sign, a divine breadcrumb leading them toward the greatest discovery of their lives.
What's remarkable about the Magi is their response. They didn't simply observe the star and continue with their daily routines. They disrupted their entire lives, leaving behind their work and comfort to pursue what the star might mean. They asked questions. They sought answers. They traveled to Jerusalem, inquired of King Herod, consulted with religious leaders, and ultimately found their way to the Christ child.
Matthew 2:1-12 tells us that when they discovered Jesus, they were overjoyed. They bowed down and worshiped Him, presenting gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But the story doesn't end there. God spoke to them in a dream, warning them not to return to Herod, and they obeyed—changing their route and, likely, the entire trajectory of their lives.
The Promise of Discovery
Jesus made an extraordinary promise: "Seek and you will find." This isn't a vague platitude—it's a guarantee. Matthew 7:7-8 expands on this: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."
God doesn't play hide and seek. He isn't trying to make discovery difficult or impossible. Instead, He's actively working in your life, placing signs and opportunities that invite you to draw closer. The question isn't whether God is available—it's whether we have a seeker's heart.
What Does Seeking Look Like?
True seeking requires action. It means being willing to disrupt your routine, to step away from the familiar, to pursue truth even when it's uncomfortable or inconvenient. The shepherds in the Christmas story left their flocks. The Magi left their homeland. Both responded to God's invitation by moving toward Him.
Seeking involves:
Asking questions. Don't be satisfied with surface-level understanding. Dig deeper. Wonder. Be curious about God, His character, His purposes, and His Word.
Being willing to change. When you discover truth, are you prepared to let it transform you? The Magi didn't return to Herod because they trusted what God revealed to them. Discovery should lead to obedience.
Taking steps. Even small ones. There's an old gospel song with the line, "If you go one step, I'll come all the way." God doesn't require perfection—He asks for movement in His direction.
Setting priorities. Sometimes seeking God means putting other things aside. It might mean saying no to certain pursuits, relationships, or habits that distract from your pursuit of Him.
The Danger of Going Through the Motions
Perhaps the greatest obstacle to genuine seeking is comfortable complacency. It's possible to attend church regularly, own a Bible, know religious language, and still never truly seek God. Going through the motions isn't the same as having a seeker's heart.
If we keep doing the same things, we'll get the same results. Real discovery requires us to be willing to shake things up, to let God disrupt our carefully constructed lives. That can be frightening—we don't know where He'll lead or what He'll ask of us. But the promise remains: those who seek will find.
A Contagious Pursuit
When you genuinely begin seeking God with hunger and passion, something remarkable happens. Others notice. Your pursuit becomes contagious. They begin asking, "What are you looking for? I want to discover that too." This is how revival begins—not through programs or strategies, but through hearts genuinely hungry for God.
The Invitation
God has already done His part. He's revealed Himself through creation, through Scripture, through the life and sacrifice of Jesus, and through the ongoing work of His Spirit. He's placed within you a desire to know Him. The star is shining. The invitation is extended.
The question that remains is deeply personal: Do you have a seeker's heart? Are you willing to pursue God with the same determination as the Magi? Will you let curiosity lead you to Christ?
The gift of seeking is available to everyone. But like any gift, it must be unwrapped, received, and acted upon. God promises that if you seek Him, you will find Him. The journey may transform your life in ways you never imagined—and that's exactly the point.
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