“You will never possess anything you are unwilling to pursue.”
There are many things in life that get our attention….things that lure us to pursue….a mate, a degree, a title, a position, affirmation, praise, and the list could go on for pages. Often times it is our passions that drive us.
On the Back 9…as I have become more observant….the one thing I know about a relationship with Christ is this: PURSUIT is an absolute in order to POSSESS a meaningful relationship with Christ.
Don’t misunderstand. Salvation is a free gift from God…”not of works lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:9) Anyone at anytime can pray and accept Jesus as their personal Savior and at that moment…He sends His Holy Spirit to live within them and their salvation is sealed. But remember, Jesus is all-knowing and He knows the sincerity of our heart and our motives. Jeremiah 17:10, “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind…” But a relationship with Christ–one that allows Him to lead our lives, one that gives life purpose and fulfillment–comes from an active, thriving pursuit of HIM.
Scripture tells us very clearly in Jeremiah 29:13, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Here Jeremiah the prophet was sending a letter to the exiles that were in captivity at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. Jeremiah was prophesying to them about what to do and to tell them that God did have a plan for them. He wanted them to seek Him and not be deceived by lies.
I love to read the gospels that tell us about Jesus being fully man and fully God as he lived on earth. We learn from the writers’ accounts what happened when people pursued Jesus. Just in the account of Matthew I see people who are in “great need”…… seeking Jesus.
Matthew 8:2, “A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.'”
Matthew 9:2, “Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat.”
Matthew 9:20, “Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for 12 years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.”
Matthew 9:28, “When he had gone indoors the blind man came to him….”
I could keep going but I want to point out to you, as a reader, a pursuit of Jesus is a must in order to live a life of significance and healing. We may not always get a physical healing but spiritual healing and significance are a guarantee. WE can come, or be brought, come up behind, kneel, or reach out and touch…but in order to know Jesus, to “possess Him,” we have to seek Him.
The fabulous news? In Jeremiah 29:14 it tells us that when you seek God with all your heart, “‘I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and will bring you back from captivity…'”
What captivity do you find yourself in today? It could just be that you are “captive in your own thoughts”. Circling the negative, hopeless thoughts, feelings of inadequacy, or lost as to what to do next. Great news. Pursue God today. Do what Matthew 6:33 teaches, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.”
In life I have gotten things backwards…maybe you have too? Seek Jesus first…above all other things. His word is given to us and that is a for sure guaranteed way God speaks to us. Read it. Seek His will for your life. List your passions–what you are pursuing every day. Be honest with yourself. God already knows your passions. The key is to become honest with yourself…and transparent to God.
Pursue Him…daily. Honestly seeking Him….and know…”where your treasure is there your heart is also.” (Matthew 6:21) Allow God to be your treasure…hotly pursue Him today!