The Great Pursuit
By Elin
Henderson
“Surely
goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…”
Psalms 23:6a
(NKJV)
Since the beginning of time, there
has been a great pursuit going on, one that to this day has never ceased. This
great pursuit is that of the God of this universe, actively pursuing mankind. We
see this first evidenced in the early chapters of Genesis, when God came down
and called to Adam and Eve in the garden, knowing full well they had sinned
against Him. He then pursued Cain after he killed his brother, offering a
chance for repentance. He pursued Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Saul, David,
and the list could go on and on.
The Hebrew word for “follow”
according to Strong’s Dictionary(1) is “Radaph” and one of the meanings is “to
pursue,” literally to “be on the heels of.” David tells us that surely His goodness and mercy continually pursue
mankind, nipping at their heels saying, “Turn to me, look to me, I am right
here!” We can’t escape it, even if we want to.
He pursues us for salvation, and then
pursues an intimate relationship with us. This active following never stops as
long as we have breath. His pursuit of goodness reminds us of His love and
compassion for us; His pursuit of mercy reminds us of His great long-suffering
and forgiveness. Together, they bring a package deal of security and strength!
So, let us always be aware of the
pursuit that is constantly taking place in our own lives, and in the lives of
those around us. May it impact us every moment of every day. We too are part of
“The Great Pursuit” which will be talked about for all of eternity!
GOING DEEPER:
1. How have you experienced the “Great Pursuit”
either in salvation and/or your daily walk?
2. How should this awareness of His pursuit of us
impact how we react to circumstances and live each day?
FURTHER READING:
Oakwood’s
missionaries Elin Henderson (a registered nurse) and her husband Phil serve as
church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique,
Africa.
Elin is mother to thirteen-year-old Callie and ten-year-old Elias. They
are currently in America on Home Assignment.
