I always seem to be in pursuit – of – ?  of what?  well, of so many things actually.  (no wonder I’m so tired)  I confess.  I am now or have been at any given point in my life in pursuit of (in no particular, rather very random order) the perfect job, a specific job, a place to live, the perfect shoes, friendship, the right guy, lasting love, the easiest diet, the best pizza, the secret to success, the best workout routine, the truth (about anything), a good plumber, an honest financial adviser, the best sale/deal on anything, excellence, a college degree, happiness, my lost keys, jeans that fit right, the perfect hair color, the perfect hair cut, the matching sock, my other earring, an affordable airfare, someone who understands me, a reliable car, the best restaurant, love, acceptance, forgiveness, reconciliation, God – and this list is not complete by any means.

Suffice it to say, I am living in pursuit mode.  I spend my time seeking after, yes, searching for and running after –  well, you saw the list.    Whether things tangible or intangible, things to be attained or things lost, needing to be found, my pursuit is in progress.

It is no wonder that I never knew I was being pursued all this time.  How did I not know this?  I guess I’ve always been so busy chasing after, yes pursuing, all these aforementioned things and more, that I never looked back to see who might be pursuing me.  Why would I?  It never occurred to me that I was worth pursuing. Who would go to that kind of trouble on my account?

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”  (Jeremiah 31:3)  God loves me?  God is pursuing me?  God is drawing me to Him?

“Where can I go from Your Spirit?  Where can I flee from Your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there.  If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.”  (Psalm 139:7-10)

There is no place that I can run to where God will not be right there with me.  His pursuit of me knows no boundaries, no limits.  As diligently as I’ve been pursuing all my various “pursuits”, God has been equally diligent in patiently pursuing me even while I pursue the pleasures and the profits of this world.  And all this time I thought I was pursuing God.  Turns out, it’s God who’s been pursuing me all along. I just needed to stop and to be still.

“Be still, and know that I am God;”  (Psalm 46:10)

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  . . .  Who of you by worrying (I would add by pursuing) can add a single hour to his life?  . . .  For the pagans run after all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  (Matthew 6:25-34)

I would much prefer to be the “pursuee” than the “pursuer”.  Turns out I have been the pursued all along.  But I was much too busy pursuing to let myself be “caught” by the One pursuing me with an everlasting love for me that I cannot fully understand nor explain.

” ‘Come now, let us reason together,’ says the Lord.  ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.’ ”  (Isaiah 1:18)

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”  (Luke 19:10)  Jesus came to pursue lost people like me and to give me forgiveness and eternal life.

“This is love; not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”  (1 John 4:10)  God is the pursuer!  I am the pursued!  Which means I must have some value in God’s eyes for Him to go to such great lengths to get my attention and to make a way for me to be reconciled to Him. Such great lengths as to send His Son, Jesus to live here with us, then die to pay the price for my sins, then rise from the grave, defeating death once for all. Leaving nothing for me to do but to believe in His name, accept what He did for me and stop trying to earn my own way to God.

I thought I was pursuing God.  But God’s been pursuing me since before time began.  “All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.”  (Psalm 139:16)

And God is still pursuing me today.  Even now He calls to me, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  (Matthew 11:28-30)

Yes, my Heavenly Father is pursuing me.  That means I can cease and desist, I can take a break from all my earthly pursuits and rest secure and satisfied in Him.  I may never find the perfect pair of shoes or of jeans.  That pursuit is elusive and unsatisfying.  I can give up all my personal pursuits.

I AM THE PURSUED!  (which means I am valued, I am loved and I am cherished by my Creator)  I am the pursued and I have been found!  You too, dear readers, are THE PURSUED!  I pray that you are found as well.

“Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God; He to rescue me from danger, Interposed His precious blood.”  (hymn – Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing)

sincerely,            Grace Day