This season, we’re blessed with a set of Lenten devotionals by contributing author Lee Hinkle.  Find out more about Lee at the bottom of this article, or at hinkledownunder.com.

Reading

John 1:1-18 (ESV)

Meditation

I have only recently begun wearing reading glasses when I read. Obviously. I have also grown accustomed to looking for my glasses, only to find them resting on my head. Does that happen to you? You have something you are looking for and can’t seem to find it, but then you realize it was on your person or right in front of you the whole time. Car keys that you have in your hand, a cell phone you can’t find when you realize you are telling the person you are talking to on the cell phone that you can’t find your cell phone.

On the other hand there are those times that you aren’t looking for something, and then you find something you thought was gone for ever. Maybe it was a special letter, and it falls out of a book you haven’t read in 3 years. Maybe it is a $20 in the pocket of pants you haven’t worn in a while. It’s a bonus!

[pullquote]When Jesus appeared, the Messiah they had longed for, they did not recognize Him. They still thought they were supposed to be searching.[/pullquote]Maybe you are at a place where you have lost or misplaced something, and you know that you won’t see it again. I did that in the seat back on a flight to Disney with a bunch of DVDs. Right now at our house we can’t seem to find some books, baking supplies and other ‘memory’ things. It is heart breaking.

When we find the lost thing it can bring great joy. It is like Christmas day. It is a huge bonus! But when Jesus appeared, the Messiah they had longed for, they did not recognize Him. They still thought they were supposed to be searching. The glory of God was present and they couldn’t see it.

[pullquote class=”left”]We were blind and still searching.[/pullquote]Many of us have been in that place. Looking for an answer to our lives; believing that something has to be better or the next thing will answer our heart desperation. Jesus appeared to us through others many times and we couldn’t see it. We were blind and still searching. Many of us have relationships with people who are searching and can’t see Jesus yet.

We should take great joy in the fact that He has appeared, and that those who are to know Him will know Him. There is hope because the Glory of God has appeared. We no longer need to search, we get to party and revel and reveal Christ to all those who watch around us. The crazy thing is, we become His appearing to the world now. Some will not see it; but others will, and they will be born of God.

Prayer

Father, we thank you for revealing your grace and truth through Jesus Christ and saving us through Him. Let us be ambassadors for you in order that those who are searching will find you. Spirit, call those who are part of the family to Jesus. Amen.

Lenten Action

Continue to memorize John 1:1-14.

Throw a party to celebrate ‘finding’ Jesus (remember, He really found you) and invite those who are still searching to come along to hang out with you.
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Lee Hinkle is an American pastor who, with his family of 7, felt God’s call to pack up and plant a church in Fremantle, a town in Perth, Western Australia.  Last Summer, the Hinkles left Indianapolis and arrived in Oz to begin their work.  You can follow their adventures at hinkledownunder.com.