I've been looking for you!

Once again I had the honor of serving for the Czechoslovak Baptist Convention a few weeks ago in its new location in Meadville, Pennyslvania. I arrived early on Thursday so I could begin preparing my kids' room and do some last minute tweaking of lessons for the weekend. As always, we utilize the college facilities to the fullest extent; even eating meals in their cafeterias. It's during one of those meals that I was reminded of a great truth. I hadn't seen any of my kids yet, as most wouldn't come till right before the evening services; but what I didn't know is that some of the families had arrived a little early.

I had just finished hanging up the 'Kids this way ->' signs when I realized it was time for lunch. Heading down to the dining hall, I allotted myself an hour to enjoy my meal and rest up before getting back to work. Grabbing a grilled cheese sandwich and a cup of tomato soup, I lifted my tray and carried it over to my seat. I realized I had forgotten my drink (ginger ale-- a rarity among the colleges we've visited) and went to fetch a cup. As I waltzed across the marble flooring, I heard the pitter-patter of little feet behind me. I spun around to see a little figure duck behind the condiments island. Slowly but surely, one of my precious little boys peered around the corner to see me looking at him. He then jumped into the open and yelled out with the utmost enthusiasm and all his might, 'I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU!' As my heart filled with joy; I smiled at him and asked, 'You've been looking for me?!?' He replied with, 'Yep! I've been looking for you and then I saw you, and I found you!' 

While I have always had great rapport with my kids, this interaction was one that I could not get out of my head. That little boy, we'll call him Jimmy, knew who I was, knew what I was, and could hardly wait to see me... SO MUCH SO that the minute he arrived to Meadville he began to eagerly search the area for my familiar face. 

As I pondered the importance of what had occurred, I realized why it was so meaningful to me.  Proverbs 8:17 (ESV) says; I love those who love me,

    and those who seek me diligently find me.

Just like Jimmy searched diligently for me until he found me, so we as Believers should search diligently for Christ.

So what does that even mean?

It means that the more we search, the more we will find… and the more we find, the more we will fall in love with Christ. It’s a natural consequence that is inevitable. When I draw closer to Jesus, I realize just how small and insignificant I am; and yet how big and significant He is, and how big and significant I am through Him. (And only THROUGH Him)

But my truth learned doesn’t stop at just the ‘searching’ part…

As I stated before, Jimmy had jumped out with such enthusiasm that his heart could have almost burst into pieces when he realized he had found me.  It was his excitement that showed me his true feelings and emotions. Afterwards as I pondered my continuous search for Christ, I asked myself… ‘How do I search?’

Do I search with an ‘anticipation-on-the-edge-of-my-seat-can’t-wait-to-see-Him kind of attitude’? Or do I search out of obligation… almost as if it were a chore? Regardless of the answer, the fact of the matter is that we need to be excited not only to search for Christ, but in finding Him and loving Him! He is the Alpha and Omega, beginning and end, author, creator, the MAKER of the UNIVERSE! How on earth could we NOT be excited to find the God that gave us life, that gave us His SON, that allowed His SON to die on the cross and save us from sin?

My friends, if I can leave you with anything to remember… it’s to always search diligently and expect something… to search in such a way that you not only find Christ, but be excited to grow in Christ and through Christ.

I have more to share about the past few weeks, but it shall have to wait till tomorrow!

With much love,

Kristina ‘Pickles’ Vlasic