Just Looking
In John 1, we see Jesus begin to call His disciples. He approaches these men in three different ways, and I cannot help but think that each of those approaches was tailored to suit their individual needs—to meet them where they were. In the first of those callings, we see two of John’s disciples eager to follow Jesus after John the Baptist declares, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” As they follow Him, Jesus turns to them in John 1:38 and asks, “What are you seeking?”
These new disciples do not seem to know how to answer the question and instead respond with another question of their own: “Where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.”
The question, “What are you seeking?” has been rattling around in my head ever since I read this passage in Bible class a month ago. Honestly, I do not know the answer. I feel like a girl in a thrift store—I know there is something there for me, I know I will not leave empty-handed, but I have no idea what treasure I will take home.
My husband and I recently went on a lunch date and did a little Christmas shopping to round out our gifts. We ended up at Costco as our last stop, with a little too much time on our hands. We went up and down every aisle. We price-compared. We explored new products. We looked at things we would normally never give a second glance. We found far too many “good deals” that we just could not pass up. We went in for toilet paper and left with enough rations to survive the winter.
In stark contrast to our Costco outing, our normal grocery store trips are done with surgical precision and a carefully crafted list prepared on the grocery store app—complete with coupon discounts and item location information. We only prepare that list after an in-depth meal plan for the week, outlining any out-of-the-ordinary activities that might affect the perfectly balanced meals and variety we have calculated. Yes, I am type A. We do not buy things that are not on the list unless there is a very good reason. When we get to the register and they ask, “Did you find everything you were looking for?” we have a definitive answer—because we know exactly what we were looking for.
As we approach a new year and see people announcing their word for 2026, along with their resolutions and goals, it feels like, as a culture, we are going through life with a grocery list. We have made our plan. We have set our goals. We have figured out exactly how we will get there—all by ourselves. But if I am honest, the end of 2025 has left me feeling downtrodden. I am definitely seeking something.
Maybe instead of knowing what my goals are for this year, or what my resolution should be, I will simply decide to be curious. Curious about scripture in the same way that I examine every item at Costco and in the same way that I cradle every treasure at the thrift store. I am seeking the Lord, and whatever else I find along the way will be an added bonus.
So now I ask you, friends: “What are you seeking?”
