Faith and Family
Seeking Him
BY DONNA WHARTENBY
H
ave you ever found yourself endlessly searching for your keys, wallet, or cell phone? You continue to search until the item is found, don’t you? Certain things are worth seeking until you find them. Read on. Two millennia ago, shepherds were watching their flocks of sheep at night when an angel from God appeared to them announcing the birth of a child named Jesus. The shepherds left their flocks to seek this Holy Child in Bethlehem (Luke 2:8-20). Soon after, three wise men called Magi came from the East following a bright star seeking to find the prophesied king. Finding Him, they bowed in worship and presented royal gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:1-11). Three decades later, Nicodemus, a Jewish leader, sought Jesus because He performed miracles from God. Nicodemus wanted the new life Jesus taught of: hope and eternal life through living a life pleasing to Elohim, Mighty God (John 3:1-15). Then there was the wealthy tax collector, short in stature, who climbed a sycamore-fig tree desiring to see Jesus. Jesus called him down from the tree to spend time with him. Zacchaeus, impacted by the words of Jesus, admitted he cheated people out of their money and promised to repay them fourfold. In seeking a life in Jesus, Zacchaeus was immediately freed from his sinful punishment on the day of judgment and received reward in this life and the next life with Yahweh, Almighty God (Luke 19).
24
