What You Seek Is What You Find
I have been so challenged by reading this little devotional called Preparing for Christmas by Richard Rohr. I have referenced it on several occasions and so I will again today. One of the reasons I have a blog is for my own good and discipline. I want to journal this journey for myself and also for my kids. One day they can look back when I am gone and get a glimpse at what the heck was wrong (occasionally right) sometimes with their dad and to see how God came through time and time again.
The idea today is set up in Luke 7 where Jesus is challenging once again the “politically correct religious” and their thinking/living. Jesus asked them “what did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? (Luke 7:24)
Rohr ask “Where do we look? When will it come?
“We all tend to aim for the GOAL instead of the JOURNEY itself, but spiritually speaking, how we get there is where we arrive.”
Have you ever tried to manipulate a process? I know I have. Many times I have found myself trying to manipulate God to do what I think needs to be done. Bad, very bad!
God is not a trophy I “get” to put on my spiritual shelf. He is God i am not.
Back in the day people were asking Jesus when and where will the Kingdom come? (luke 17:20-22) Jesus said ‘The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs. You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you…people will tell you, ‘Look, there is the Son of Man,’ or ‘Here he is,’ but don’t go out and follow them.
In other words, it is not going to be easily and obviously seen. No quick fix, solution, answer.
Jesus actually warns people they will be disappointed because they are looking for the wrong thing by looking for the WHOLE thing right now!
Rohr (among others) says that Yes, this is the Kingdom, but it is also not entirely the kingdom. Yes, it is here, but not totally here. It is there, but not entirely there.
Better yet, nobody can say “I have it.” It is always an invitation. “You have not chosen me, I am always choosing you” (John 15:16)
Luke does say in chapter 17:21 “The Kingdom of God is in your midst.”
Life is a mixed bag for sure.
The Kingdom “does not admit of full observation” here. Only in eternity are all shadows resolved.
Here we live in faith and trust in the in-between.!
