Day 15 of 50

READING GUIDE:

• Read today's devotion below.
• During days 15-21 (at your own pace) read chapters 7 thru 10 from Joining Jesus on His Mission.
• After days 15-21, meet with your small group and follow the back-of-the-book discussion guide for SESSION 3

"He who keeps on seeking finds..." (Matthew 7:8 AMP)

I enjoy jigsaw puzzles; preferably ones more challenging, at least 500 pieces. Sometimes I'm amazed that when scanning over the table, looking for that particular piece, I know that it is staring right back at me. Frustrating! But the first quick glance through the pieces usually won't help me find it. It is when I refocus more intently, continue the search, look for the subtleties, when the "lost" piece almost miraculously appears. Again, it was there all the time. I just needed to slow down and pay attention.

When we are seeking Jesus' activity in another person's life, Finke writes in chapter 7, "It's not that there is nothing to see. It's that so few of us are looking for it. But if we will seek, Jesus says in Matthew 7:8, we will find. A more precise translation of this verse would be, 'He who keeps on seeking finds...' In the original Greek, Jesus uses an ongoing verb tense for seek, indicating that our action of seeking is to be a persistent habit not an occasional hobby. Jesus promises that those who will continue seeking will find what God is showing them."

In what areas do you need God to help you more persistently seek what He is doing in another's life so that you may join Him in His redemptive work? Invite others to pray about this for you.