Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 29:13

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 29:13

"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."

I pondered on the verbs to seek, search and find. These are some descriptions I found.

"The object of seek is the item you are trying to locate, whereas the object of search is the place you are looking in.

Seek implies that seeker knows that the item they are looking for does exist. In search has no such implication

Find means discover or understand, feel or become aware of something, perceive by chance or unexpectedly."

One must have faith in order to seek. You will find as the spirit guides. The search must be in the right place, where the Lord will be found. You cannot find the Lord by searching in dark places, or having doubt in your heart.

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

(Matthew 7:7-8)

"The formula for finding Jesus has always been and ever will be the same—the earnest and sincere prayer of a humble and pure heart. The Prophet Jeremiah counseled, ". . . ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart" 

Before we can successfully undertake a personal search for Jesus, we must first prepare time for him in our lives and room for him in our hearts. In these busy days there are many who have time for golf, time for shopping, time for work, time for play, but no time for Christ.

Lovely homes dot the land and provide rooms for eating, rooms for sleeping, playrooms, sewing rooms, television rooms, but no room for Christ.

Do we get a pang of conscience as we recall his own words, ". . . foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head"  Or do we flush with embarrassment when we remember, "And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn" No room. No room. No room. Ever has it been.

As we undertake our personal search for Jesus, aided and guided by the principle of prayer, it is fundamental that we have a clear concept of him whom we seek. The shepherds of old did seek Jesus the child. But we seek Jesus the Christ, our older Brother, our Mediator with the Father, our Redeemer, the Author of our salvation him who was in the beginning with the Father, him who took upon himself the sins of the world and so willingly died that we might forever live. This is the Jesus whom we seek."

(Thomas S. Monson, "The Search for Jesus", Oct 1965 General Conference; reprinted Dec 2003 New Era)

Day 2933