Who are you looking for?
The most difficult part of my job as a college basketball coach is recruiting. It is a never ending cycle of searching, evaluation, and building a relationship with someone you hope will change your life for the better.
You can actually compare the process of recruiting with searching for your spouse. It is something you do from the day you reach puberty until you finally find the one. Now, do that non-stop year after year, but not looking for just one, but instead trying to find numerous difference makers.
I always laugh when a person makes the comment after my season comes to an end. “Now you can get some rest.” They have no idea that the only way you have a chance to climb back up the mountain again next March, is if you work twice as hard at seeking the right recruits to replace your seniors.
Let’s take this recruiting thing to the highest level. My favorite Jesus quote of all-time is,
“Who are you looking for?”
The Bible says in Mathew 6:33, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all things will be added.”
Hebrews 11:6 says it like this, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Jesus not only asked the question “Who are you looking for?”, he repeated it and he did so in such a powerful manner that it should be the best movie line ever.
In John 18, Jesus best friend on earth, the beloved John, shares with us how the capturing of Jesus went down. The arrest of Jesus.
“The Pharisees and the leading priests had given Judas a large detachment of Roman soldiers and temple police to seize Jesus. (The Greek and Aramaic word used for this company of soldiers implies quite a large number, up to five or six hundred men sent to arrest Jesus. Even his enemies knew his power was great.) Judas guided them to the garden, all of them carrying torches and lanterns and armed with swords and spears. Jesus, knowing full well what was about to happen, went out to the garden entrance to meet them. Stepping forward, he asked, “Who are you looking for?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. (Now Judas, the traitor, was among them.) He replied, “I am he.” And the moment Jesus spoke the words, “I am he,” the mob fell backward to the ground! (This was a stunning event as the great I Am spoke his name before those who sought to seize him. It is obvious in the text that they did not trip over each other in surprise, for every one of these strong men fell backward to the ground by the power of God. Jesus was in charge that night as the captain of the host of the Lord. They could not seize him unless he permitted them to do so. What a wonderful Savior who willingly submitted to the hands of cruel men to bring us the gift of salvation.) So once more, Jesus asked them, “Who are you looking for?” As they stood up, they answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.””
John 18:3-7 TPT
After dropping a cohort of 500-600 soldiers to the ground with three words, Jesus drops my favorite line ever on them again! As he asked them again!
Who are you looking for?
We should all be looking for ONE person every second of every day and that person is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
“Who are you looking for?” Should guide every decision you make. If the decision you make will draw you closer to Jesus, then that is the right decision!