It belonged in the closet, just above eye level, but it wasn’t there. I looked under all around but didn’t see it. I looked above and below its customary spot, but couldn’t find it. My search was in vain.

Not long afterward, Robert asked me if, during my search, I saw something that he needed.

“No, I didn’t,” I replied, but added, “But I wasn’t looking for it, so it may have been there, and I looked right over it.”

The item he needed was in the closet. In fact, it was clearly visable, but I hadn’t seen it because I wasn’t looking for it.

I recalled that scenario a couple of days later when I read John 1:35-40. John the Baptist was talking with a couple of his disciples, Andrew and John, when he saw Jesus and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

Andrew and John left John the Baptist and followed Jesus.

Jesus turned to them and asked, “What do you seek?’ He could have said, “What do you want?” Why did He ask what they were looking for, rather than just greeting them?

My closet search taught me that if we aren’t looking for something, we are likely not to see it, even if it’s right in front of us. If that is so, shy did Jesus ask that question, and what were Andrew and John looking for?

They were looking for the Lamb of God. But, if that’s the case, their response to Jesus’ question is rather strange. Rather than answer what they were looking for, they asked Him a question, “Rabbi, where are you staying?”

“Where are you staying?” Were they really looking for where Jesus was staying?

Yes. And no. It probably didn’t matter where Jesus was staying. Their question was probably a way of saying, “There are a lot of people around here. Where can we visit without interruption? We’d like to get to know you better. Can we go to your place?”

Their question reveals hearts that were looking for the Messiah, the Anointed One. Knowing about Him was not enough. They wanted to spend time with Him, to get to know Him.

As I read those verses, God asked me, “What are you looking for?”

I want to follow Jesus. Furthermore, for basically all my life, I’ve heard that we are to love God with our whole hearts (Matt. 22:37-38) and to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33). I know that if we ask, we will receive; if we seek, we will find; and if we knock, it will be opened (Matt. 7:7-8).

Consequently, if asked if I am seeking Him, my immediate answer is, “Yes,”—and I mean it. But, when I read this, I realized that I’m not always asking, “Rabbi, where are you staying?”

“Can I come to Your place to get to know You better?”

Recently, I’ve been convicted about this same question—though asked in a different way. In response, I’ve set aside more time and been more purposeful in my effort to seek God and know Him better.

However, when my schedule presses in, I’m distracted by my to-do list and am tempted to cut my time short. During those times, it’s easy to read the Word while thinking about something else, or to shorten prayer time or get sidetracked.

Am I asking, “Where are you staying?” or is it more like, “Can I go now? Have I done enough?”–as if I’m checking a duty off my list.

Ouch. During our time with the Lord, the degree which we allow ourselves to wander (in mind or body) from fellowship with Him is an indication of the degree in which we’re truly seeking Him.

Like my search in the closet, we tend to find the thing we’re looking for. If we’re asking and not receiving, it may be because we’re asking for one thing while seeking another.

Jesus’ question is relevant for me today as much as it was when He began His ministry. After all, He’s still looking for disciples, for people who will follow Him and will fellowship with Him.

The Lord wants to fellowship with us and desires intimacy. He said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me” (Rev. 3:20). We are the ones with other priorities in life.

The invitation is sent and the table is set, but the question remains, “What are you seeking?”