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 sixteen-year-old Callie and fourteen-year-old Elias.
