why seek jesus?
"I assure you, you are not looking for Me because you have seen signs but because you have eaten your fill of the loaves." —John 6:26
The Lord has invited us to "come and see" (Jn 1:39). He wants us to "seek His face." However, we must be doing this not because we have eaten our fill. We should not primarily be trying to get things from Jesus. We "should not be working for perishable food" (Jn 6:27). We are to seek Jesus for Himself and for love. We should not be believing in a "prosperity gospel" but a "Jesus-gospel." We are not primarily seeking to go to heaven and avoid the pains of hell. Rather, we seek to go to Jesus, Who lives in heaven, and to avoid final separation from Him, which is hell. We are to live the Christian life not only for good reasons but for God's reason, that is, unconditional love.
This does not mean that we will not receive amazing material blessings on earth and perfect happiness in heaven forever. Nevertheless, we should seek the Giver more than the gifts. Because of love, we are to boast more of the cross (see Gal 6:14) than of the pleasures and satisfactions of Christianity. Live in love — unconditional, crucified love. Live for God alone.
Prayer: Father, give me crosses to purify my motives.
Promise: "Stephen...was a man filled with grace and power, who worked great wonders and signs among the people." —Acts 6:8
Praise: Motivated by God's love, Andy moved his young wife and newborn across the country to go back home to care for his ailing mother.
Reference: (For more teachings on unconditional love, read the Bible daily. For encouragement, order any or all of these audio or video tapes: Ignorance of Scriptures is Ignorance of Christ, AV 82-1, V-82, How to Pray the Bible on audio AV 82-3 or on video V-82, How to Read the Bible on audio AV 46-3 or on video V-46, Principles of Bible Interpretation, audio AV 79-1, video V-79.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Giles H. Pater, November 15, 2001
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, November 16, 2001