Rev. E. Anderson
PURSUE
This is quite a good word which seeks to convey the idea of ‘to follow closely or accompany or to seek or strive to attain some desire’. Also contained in the word is the thought of following the precepts, policies or plans of some person or project or to apply oneself to studies and interests. In close connection with the word is ‘pursuit’ which certainly suggests a real keenness and commitment to seek whatever grasps the mind with real vigour in order to possess and own.
It definitely is a word that is revealed in Scripture and is noted in a number of instances and connections that are worthy of attention.
The greatest pursuit of all must be to go after God and this is near to the first meaning of to follow closely or accompany. There is no doubt about it: God seeks and desires the company of man and that is why He created him. At the outset, it is apparent that on a daily basis God sought him out for communion and communication. He was in hot pursuit in regular fashion. Unfortunately man let him down with his sin and evil ways but God has ever kept up the hot pursuit throughout human history.
Jesus Christ came as God’s representative in hot pursuit of man and by His life, death and resurrection makes it possible for man to seek God and find in Him salvation and to discover that he wills to be man’s choicest and best Friend. The call of God to all mankind is to pursue Him, to make Him their quest and discover Him, the One who is really worth knowing. The psalmist in reply to the question posed by God was quick in his reply. ‘When you said, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto you, Your face, Lord will I seek’ – Psalm 27: 8. The promise is given on this front to all who will genuinely and unreservedly do this – ‘And you shall seek Me, and find Me, when you shall search for Me with all your heart’ – Jeremiah 29: 13. You really do need to make God the pursuit of your life and know His Company above all others. The apostle Paul, having come to a dynamic experience of Christ and having had a unique revelation of Him he makes this his life ambition. He says, ‘that I may know Him ….but I follow after, if that may apprehend that which I also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus’- Philippians 3: 10, 12.
It is also essential to do as Christ directed. In His Sermon on the Mount He made very plain what should be the great pursuit of the Christian life. He said: ‘Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you’ – Matthew 6: 33. In a world of materialism, when there is so much to catch the eye and absorb the attention and affection, it easy to lose sight of the things that do really matter above everything else. Because we are natural creatures, mind and heart can be overtaken by things of this nature that belong to the kingdom of earth. But there is a superior and greater heavenly and spiritual kingdom that must hold sway and domination. When the latter is in sovereign control there is no need to worry about the former because God sees that all is attended to as Matthew 6: 31, 32.
A vital part of the programme of life is underlined in one of the meanings – ‘following the precepts, plans and policies of some person’. God has given His Word to man and in it is made known these features. The Bible is the Guide Book and Manual for a very successful life and service. As it is consistently read, understood, believed and put into practice then one can be assured of a full and satisfying existence. Its counsel, rules for living are there for glad implementation and the best results guaranteed. God’s mind and will must be sought and happily pursued and the consequences will be found to be most favourable.
Like Christ and the early Christians, you must pursue the great blessing of being filled with the Holy Spirit. Make it your daily business to see that you are seeking more of His presence, fullness and gifting, so there will be a release into a dynamic life and ministry that will give cause for great satisfaction.
Who and what are you in pursuit of?
Make sure that you are chasing after God and those things that will produce the greatest results and give the most lasting pleasure.
A GLADSOME QUEST
‘Let all those that seek You rejoice and be glad in you’
PRAYER
Grant me the sense and wisdom to know who and what I should really be pursuing in this life and the faith and will to keep up the quest until all has been achieved
