According to the dictionary, to pursue means to chase or run after something or someone. We pursue the things we really want and are interested in. What are you chasing after in your life? Is it money? A beautiful home? A prestigious job? An expensive car? A certain someone who attracts you? If we’re honest, we realize many (if not most) of the things we pursue have to do with worldly approval or success.
The Bible tells us to pursue a whole different set of things. For example:
“Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” Psalm 34:14
Pursue is a verb, an action word. This means I must not only think peace is a nice idea, I must do what I can to promote it. Maybe this means compromise, or putting another person first. Certainly it means caring more about the other person than winning or getting my own way.
Here’s another one:
“Pursue love and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts…” 1 Corinthians 14:1
Pursuing love means behaving in a loving way to all of God’s children–not just the ones I care about or the ones who treat me well. It means using my gifts to encourage and support others, not to promote only myself and my own interests.
Finally:
“Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.” 1 Timothy 6:11b
Pursuing righteousness and godliness means going against my natural inclination by doing God’s will instead of my own. Pursuing God’s way means trying to be selfless instead of selfish.
I know I’ll never completely stop pursuing the wrong things; but staying close to God through study, worship and prayer will help me remind me of the things I really want.
“For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18b
Run after God. Pursue the eternal.
Lutheran Ladies Connection 