First Presbyterian Church of Alabaster (Cumberland)

Main Menu *

FYI

Who's Online
We have 5 guests online

Home

Open Door Articles

December Articles

seek and be sought (Dec 5)

Wednesday, 13 December 2006

     Ben Campbell Johnson calls it “ the double search ”. He writes, “ God’s searching for you and your searching for God can continue for only so long. At some point the seeker God meets the seeking person or the seeking person meets the seeker God. The encounter occurs! It occurs because of God’s great love and god’s persistent seeking. How might you respond to God when the moment of meeting comes? ” Johnson writes these words to begin his thoughts on attending to God. Let’s spend some time considering them and reflecting on Johnson’s question of what we will do.

     As a model for helping us respond to this seeking God, Johnson uses the story of God’s call to Samuel. The story is found in I Samuel 3: 1 - 18. I encourage you to read that story as you reflect on attending to God. We need to remember, and always remember, that encounters with God are ultimately God - induced. Remember back to our first reflection on Johnson’s book. We spoke about God desiring us and calling after us and how all of us have at our essence a need for God in our lives. All of our seeking is God - induced – even when we might be unaware of God’s activity.

     Johnson sees three principles at work in the Samuel story that might be helpful to us. First, it is God who speaks. Often God’s voice comes to us when we least expect it and seldom, if ever, in audible form. Mostly, God comes to us through intuitions, experiences, and imagination. Johnson contends that many people fail to notice God’s presence because they are living inattentive lives. Often Jesus would challenge listeners to be awake, to be alert, to be watchful. Jesus was telling people that God was present and active. Johnson challenges us to live in a state of awareness because God’s voice will ultimately demand an answer!

     Secondly, we may need help in discerning God’s voice. This is an invaluable principle to learn. Many people sense that God is at work in their lives, but they need the affirmation of others, of the church to make sense out of what God is revealing. This is one of the great reasons to be active in the fellowship of the church. Think about how many times you have been called to ministry through the church. Sunday School teachers. Elders. Deacons. Ushers. Greeters. Liturgists. Committee members. God’s activity in your life made you aware of the chances to serve, and God’s call came to you through the church. If you believe that God is at work in your life calling you to particular work, talk to a friend, seek counsel, and find affirmation through other people and the church.

     Third, when the seeking person and the seeking God do encounter each other God’s call will require a response. We are encouraged to study scripture, to reflect on our circumstances and experiences, and to pay attention to an “ inner sense of rightness ” to help us respond. God desires active, seeking people. The grace of God makes it possible for us to respond in positive, appropriate ways. We can seek and be sought, find and be found without fear. God is calling us. And, God is equipping us to be called. Take some time this week to live attentive lives!

      Grace and peace.