Luke 19 (7)

Pray Psalm 25.4, 5.
Show me Your ways, O LORD;
Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
On You I wait all the day.

Sing Psalm 25.4, 5.
(Festal Song: Rise Up, O Men of God)
Make me to know Your ways, teach me Your paths, O Lord!
My Savior, all day long I wait and seek You in Your Word.

Read Luke 19.1-48; meditate on verses 10, 17, 34, 40, 42, 46.

Preparation
1. What do our meditation verses tell us about what Jesus seeks?

2. What is Jesus seeking for you?

Meditation
Throughout the course of His ministry, Jesus was on the move. He rarely stayed anywhere for very long. His constant movement must have provoked some people to ask, “Where’s He going? What is He seeking?”

We know that Jesus was seeking His Father’s glory, not merely in His own work but in the work of those who would follow Him. In this chapter we get a good glimpse at what Jesus is seeking for all who follow Him.

First, like Him, they must be seekers of the lost, to bring the grace of forgiveness, repentance, and new life in the freedom of God’s Word. Jesus is seeking witnesses.

Further, Jesus is seeking people who will make good use of all that He entrusts to us to bring a return of honor and glory to Him. As we do, He increases His benefits to us, enabling us to serve Him even more. Jesus is seeking stewards who labor to hear His “Well done!” at the end of their days.

Third, Jesus is seeking people who will obey His every command, be it ever so small or seemingly unimportant. He wants us to do His bidding in every moment, at every opportunity, and according to all His Word. Jesus calls us to be servants of His Kingdom and glory.

Fourth, Jesus is seeking people who know how worthy He is of all praise and who will not allow anything to keep them from glorifying and boasting about Him. Jesus is seeking worshipers.

Fifth, Jesus is seeking people who listen to His Word so that they know, love, and serve Him faithfully in all things. Jesus is seeking hearers.

Finally, Jesus is seeking people who will be diligent and constant in looking to Him with praise and thanksgiving for all their needs. Jesus is seeking pray-ers.

How do we measure up? Are we the kind of people who, when Jesus comes seeking, will clearly be in His sight line?

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“LORD, I hope for Your salvation, and I do Your commandments” (Ps. 119.166).
“Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me’” (Lk. 9.23).

Jesus calls us; o’er the tumult of our life’s wild, restless sea,
Day by day His sweet voice soundeth, saying, “Christian, follow Me.”

Jesus calls us from the worship of the vain world’s golden store,
From each idol that would keep us, saying, “Christian, love Me more.”

In our joys and in our sorrows, days of toil and hours of ease,
Still He calls in cares and pleasures, “Christian, love Me more than these.”

Jesus calls us: by Thy mercies, Savior, may we hear Thy call,
Give our hearts to Thine obedience, serve and love Thee best of all.
(Alexander, 1852/Jude, 1887)

Jesus, the Seeker, is seeking:
daily witnesses, good stewards, obedient servants, true worshipers, active hearers, and constant pray-ers.
(Lk. 19.10, 17, 34, 40, 42, 46).

Will He find us faithful? (Lk. 8.25; 18.8)

For reflection
1. Can you see in your life each of those things Jesus is seeking? Explain.

2. Where are you most in need of improvement in the things Jesus is seeking?

3. What will you do today to carry out your calling in each of these areas Jesus is seeking?

Christ came, not because we first sought him out but rather to seek for us, and not only to seek for us but also to save us. Johannes Brenz (1499-1570) An Ecclesiasticall Exposition upon Saint Luke 19.7

Pray Psalm 25.10-22.
Pray that today you will seek what the Lord seeks for you, that you might know His way, rest in His love, and do everything for His glory.

Sing Psalm 25.10-22.
(Festal Song: Rise Up, O Men of God)
The paths of God are all of love and faithfulness.
All they who keep His covenant the Lord will surely bless.

For Your sake, Lord, forgive.  All they who fear You, Lord,
shall know Your blessings day by day and follow in Your Word.

Your friends are they who fear and seek Your holy face;
Your covenant with them You share and save them by Your grace.

Be gracious, Lord, to me; my heart is weighed with woe.
My troubles and affliction see; let my transgressions go.

Consider all my foes, who hate me all the day;
and rescue my poor soul lest I should stumble in the way.

Preserve me in Your way, redeem Your people, Lord!
We wait for You and refuge seek in Your own faithful Word.

T. M. and Susie Moore 

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available by clicking here.