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By Mike Caton

John 7:35, The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?”

Jesus’ words confuse the crowd. They cannot understand where he is going that they will not be able to find him. Maybe they wonder why he is going away. There is a threat on his life, and that would encourage most folks to get away, but that doesn’t fit Jesus’ character. Maybe they think he is going somewhere else to teach the people. That is what they mean by the Jews scattered among the Greeks. It is interesting that they wonder if he is going to teach the Greeks themselves. They were a very exclusive people, they had never pretended to include anyone in their religion. And later, there will be friction when the gospel is preached to the Gentiles.

Think about it, is there a place now where we can’t find Jesus? We talked yesterday about this, we mentioned Jeremiah who said we will find God when we seek him with all of our heart. God is not hiding from us, he wants us to find him, he longs for us to find him. In fact, God has given us hints and glimpses of himself all around us. Look at and consider creation, this world; soaring pines, majestic oaks, delicate flowers, those things didn’t just happen by accident. From the roaring oceans, to the marshes, to the rolling sand hills, to rugged mountains (and that is all in North Carolina), again those things didn’t just happen. Look at the diversity of the animals. Consider the complexities of your own body. All of those things demand a powerful and intelligent creator. God is showing himself to us every day. And he has revealed himself and his plan for us in his word, the Bible. We simply have to seek for him.

But that is the key, we have to seek him with all of our heart. God is not pleased and will not accept half-hearted commitment. We can put ourselves in a place that we cannot find God. But that is our choice, our decision. But let’s not go in that direction.

Father, again, help me find you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Mike Caton is the preacher at Mount Olive Church of Christ in Belhaven. He volunteers at the Ponzer Fire Department and works part time with Hyde County EMS. If you would like to receive daily devotions in your inbox, email mikecaton@centurylink.net.

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