Pursuing God

<<chasing after God>>

This is a ‘holy discontent’ with one’s current relationship with God – a belief there is so much more that can be entered into, coupled with the determination to make this pursuit of God a priority. Rather than being satisfied to be a lukewarm Christian, which is abhorrent to God, why not be red-hot for Christ (Rev 3:15,16)? Many people when they become believers are on fire for God, then ‘life’ gets intense and

May we pursue God till the day we die

although their hand is still ‘on the plough’ they frequently look back at what they gave up – consequently their spiritual life suffers (Lk 9:62). Do I want to be just a mediocre Christian?

"The Lord looks to see if any seek God" (Ps 14:2). Yet the promise is when we “Go after Him with our whole heart we will find Him”, for “He rewards those who diligently seek Him” so "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (Prov 8:17, Isa 58:2; Jer 29:13; Heb 11:6; Jas 4:8). Jesus expressed it as, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all the necessary things of life will be given to you" (Mt 6:33). Claim the words said to Abraham, “I am your exceeding great reward” (Gen 15:1). As the Psalmist said “No one who hopes in you will be disappointed” – may this be our confession too. “Your face I will seek” (Ps 25:3, 27:8).

It takes concerted effort to lay aside the demands of life and its busyness to connect with God so rather than being dictated to by the events of life we need to be in control, set priorities and not have a casual, ‘If I have time’ approach. There will be a cost involved as we deny what our carnal self wants to spend time doing. Pursuing God through focused

Do I view my relationship with God top priority?

devotion to Him requires surrender of personal plans, quality time in His presence, expressing our heart’s desire to Him, and being sensitive to His voice, besides walking in obedience and righteousness. “Blessed are they that…seek Him with the whole heart…Who hunger and thirst for righteousness [this is a reflection of God’s character], for they will be filled” (Ps 119:2; Mt 5:6). We must recognise our need for God.

Consider the example of the disciples who said “We have left all to follow you”, and Paul who said, I disregard the past and even where I am at the moment, instead I press on regardless to know Christ in a greater way (Mk 10:28; Phil 3:7-14). Is this the inner cry of my heart too? Am I committed to pushing on to experience a greater sense of His presence? The more we follow God, the more He will come and reveal Himself to us for “Those that honour God, He will honour” (1 Sam 2:30; Jn 14:23).

The challenge of Jesus is, unless you give up the right to run your own life you can’t be my disciple yet “Everyone who has given up [what is dear to them] for my sake will receive one hundred times as much” in eternity (Mt 19:29; Lk 14:26). When alone with God and we honestly acknowledge the

We will not be disappointed

disappointments in our circumstances and relationships we are given the opportunity to enter into a greater intimacy and dependency on Him; whereas when we are comfortably satisfied and without any pressing needs there is not the intensity to our seeking after Him (1 Sam 1:7-16). It is a privilege that He wants us to connect with Him and our pursuit of God is always successful because He is forever seeking to manifest Himself to us. God works in our situations to arouse the desire so we will reach out and find Him (Act 17:26,27). As He wants intimacy with us, whatever He does in us is designed to draw us closer to Himself. Our pursuit of God is both individual and corporate – this is why it is important to be part of a local fellowship of believers (Heb 10:25).

We cannot expect to show Christ to others if we are not engaged in a growing relationship with Him ourselves. Above anything else, our primary task as followers of Jesus is to stay in a fresh relationship with our Lord. It is then that we will hear His voice of guidance and His words of wisdom and encouragement to pass on.

The Bible commands human beings to pursue God and promises that, when we do, we will find Him (Dt 4:29; 2 Chr 7:14; Isa 55:6; Jer 29:13; Act 17:27). Yet God is the initiator of those pre-salvation spiritual pursuits with Jesus saying that no one can come to Him unless the Father first draws them (Ps 53:2; Jn 6:44; Rom 3:10-12).

The entire Bible is the story of God pursuing us. After Adam and Eve sinned, they did not run toward God; they ran away from Him yet God went looking for them (Gen 3:8,9). God seeking humanity is further illustrated in the ‘lost’ parables culminating in the Father reaching out to the wayward son (Lk 15:3-20). The ultimate pursuit of God towards us

Jesus said, "I come to seek and save the lost" – Luke 19:10

who, being bound in sin and unable to reach Him by our own efforts involved Jesus dying in our place with redemption offered to all (Jn 1:12, 3:16-18, 12:46; Rom 1:16; 2 Cor 5:21, 9:15; Rev 22:17). The result is people of every era, nation, tribe, and tongue turning to Him for salvation (Rev 5:9). As believers, we should be continually developing our relationship with God; we are as close to Him as we desire and make the effort to to be.

As His representatives we are commissioned in this ongoing seeking the lost (Mt 28:19,20; Act 1:8). Even after connecting with Jesus at salvation, He desires a greater relationship with us. While He reaches out to us – it’s our choice to accept His advances. There is no greater honour in the universe than being the objects of the Lord God Almighty’s pursuit.