Daily Devotional

I sought for a place to meet with the Lord on Monday.  I took a turn up at the entrance to Coarsegold, and headed into territory lesser known to me.

My goal is to seek the Lord in a special way on Monday mornings, when I can.  But I also find that my heart is often compromised.  I usually get a coffee or mocha to drink, and something sweet to eat.  So as I search for a place, I am concerned whether I could buy what I wanted in the direction I am going.

I tell myself that what I really want is to find a quiet, private place to meet with Christ, including room to walk around and pray out loud.  But eating and drinking enter in.  I also recently washed my car, so I would prefer to not get it so dirty today, going down some dirt road.  I also showered and have clean clothes on, so I would prefer not to get too sweaty.

So put all together, I wrestle with what I really want today.  Still, my heart determination is expressed by Jeremiah.

"Thus says the Lord, 'Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,' declares the Lord."
Jeremiah 9:23–24 (NASB)

That call is the highest value in my heart, my boast in Him, and in the things in which He delights.  On my little Monday journeys I always get there, but often not without an inward fight against myself, or an outward battle against the temptations of the enemy of our souls.

How do we seek Him?  How important is it?  One of the greatest losses for the committed Christian is to more or less accept that we now know the Lord well enough, and go on about life.

It makes me think of the scene at the tomb in the morning of Christ’s resurrection.

"But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping?' She said to them, 'They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.' Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?' Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, 'Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.' Jesus said to her, 'Mary.' She turned and said to him in Aramaic, 'Rabboni!' (which means Teacher)."
John 20:11–16 (ESV)

Peter looked in the tomb and left.  John looked in the tomb, believed and left.  But Mary stood weeping!  It was not from deep, spiritual insight that she remained.  But it was because of a heart deeply after Christ.  She stood weeping.  She had a task to do and was determined to accomplish it.  She lingered.

When she looked into the tomb, she saw angels.  Angels neither Peter nor John saw.  The angels asked her about her heart, “Why are you weeping?”  And then, “Whom are you seeking?”  Such a question is for all of us today, young and old, male or female, committed or lukewarm, “Whom are you seeking?”  The answer to that question will define our Christian lives.  There is no more important question than that.

What we are seeking will be made known, like to me on my Monday morning search for a place.  Is it food and drink, first?  Is it a clean car?  Is it avoiding the inconvenience another shower and change of clothes?

We will find what we are seeking.  What matters to us?  What drives us?  What are riches to us?  Where is our treasure?  There our hearts will be also.

Mary was seeking Him.  Suddenly He says to her, “Mary.”  She looks and sees, and realizes her goal!  She received much more that she had sought.  So will we when we seek Him.  Never mind any frustrating previous experiences in seeking the Lord.  Seek Him today.  Seek Him tomorrow.  He who asks will receive.  He who seeks will find.  To him who knocks it will be opened.  Matthew 7:8

Life is large and complicated, but what do you really want?  There are many good ends, but whom do you seek?  The world at Mary’s moment was also very complicated.  Confused.  Unclear.  But while Peter and John had gone, Mary stood weeping!

There is discovery for you, beyond what you have ever imagined.  Past your present knowledge.  Higher that your loftiest goal.  Mary saw angels.  Then she saw Jesus.  She clung to Him for all her life.  She became God’s herald to all the other disciples.  
 
Peter looked and left.
John believed and left.
But Mary stood weeping!


For further investment:

1. Read John 21, and ponder Jesus’ question to Peter, “What is that to you?”
2. Consider the song, “All That Thrills My Soul is Jesus,” by Thoro Harris.  Invest.

New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation