Introduction
Child's game of hide and seek. All hide, try not to be found. But because of socialization, some cannot stand not being found. Make themselves easy to be found. Hide and seek works best if there are no good hiding places, or if there are, when the process is two-sided. Save, application at end of sermon.
World of Bible, and contemporary world, are filled with people looking for Jesus. Sometimes they know for whom they are looking, sometimes not. I trust you know for whom you are looking, but our world is filled with people who are looking for something, but do not know what they are looking for. A truth especially in focus during this holiday season. Some are also seeking to hide from Jesus, other Christians, the church. Not wanting to be known, to be found.
Observe also that people look in various ways--look anxiously, expectantly, curiously, half- heartedly (without understanding the cost, 9:57), with ridicule, mistaken identity, not know specifically who looking for, but looking for someone.

BECAUSE OF GOD'S PROMISES--LOOKING TO GOD