What are you Seeking?

Jesus asked two of His first followers, “What seek ye?” They replied, “Where dwellest thou? This devotional explores the practical application of this exchange.

Since the beginning of time, humans have been seeking things they hope will improve their lives. Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, seeking to be as wise as gods. In the land of Shinar, humans sought to build a tower that would reach unto heaven. On a more positive note, in Hebrews 11 we read of Abraham seeking a city built by God.

Our text, found in John 1:35-41, describes two disciples who’d heard John the Baptist point to Jesus and cry out, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Two disciples followed the One of whom John spoke. Jesus turned, saw the disciples following, then inquired, “What do you seek?”

The disciple replied by also asking a question, “Rabbi, where dwellest thou?” They sought to know where Jesus dwelt, so that they might learn more about Him and from Him. Not all seekers, however, have such noble goals.

If Jesus were to turn and ask our twenty-first-century world, “What seek ye?” the answers echoing back would likely reveal a profound, collective exhaustion. 

Unlike those early disciples who sought His dwelling place, many today are simply seeking a temporary escape from the relentless noise, anxiety, and pressures of modern life. We chase after financial safety, digital validation, or the illusion of perfect control, hoping these modern “towers of Babel” will finally grant us peace and security. 

Yet, beneath our pursuit of material comfort lies the same spiritual hunger that has been driving humanity since the Garden of Eden—a desperate search for identity, belonging, and a truth that does not shift with the culture. 

Ultimately, while we often settle for chasing temporary fixes, our souls are still crying out for what only Christ can provide: a permanent refuge and a deeper relationship with the One who already knows exactly what we need. The one who invites us to, “Come and see.”