Only by the Grace of God

When was the last time you were pursued?  Was it by that special person who pursued you into a relationship with them?  Maybe you were pursued by someone who wanted you to come and work with them.  Or, maybe you think of it as a time that you were pursued by something that you didn’t want.  Maybe you think that the devil has been pursuing you for a long time.
 
So, what does the word pursue mean?  The Merriam-Webster says, “to follow in order to overtake, capture, kill, or defeat; to find or employ measures to obtain or accomplish; to proceed along.”  It seems that there is great effort and intention in this word.  A pursuit of someone or something does happen unless it means something to the pursuer.
 
In the Old Testament, the word is mostly used of someone going after someone else.  It is an enemy pursuing those whom they intend to overthrow (Joshua 8:16; I Samuel 30:8).  God also punished His people who were not faithful to Him promising them that they would be pursued (Ezekiel 35:6; Hosea 8:3).  David wrote, “Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” (Psalm 34:14).
 
Pursuit in the New Testament is most often translated “persecute.” The word from which it is translated means, “aggressively chase, like a hunter pursuing a catch (prize).”  The word is used positively (earnestly pursue) and negatively (zealously persecute, hunt down).
 
There are at least 7 things that God tells us to pursue. 
Pursue righteousness – Romans 9:30
Pursue love – I Corinthians 14:1; II Timothy 2:22
Pursue holiness – Hebrews 12:14
Pursue peace – Hebrews 12:14; I Peter 3:11
Pursue faith – II Timothy 2:22
Pursue good for ourselves – I Thessalonians 5:15
Pursue good for all people – I Thessalonians 5:15
 
Why does God tell us to pursue these things?  One answer is obvious.  He wants us to pursue these things because they are best for us.  The pursuit of these things makes us the people He wants us to be.  However, there is another less obvious reason why should pursue these things.  We should pursue these things because God pursued us (Romans 5:6-10).  God pursued us when we had no strength to pursue Him (verse 6).  God pursued us when we were running from Him (verse 8).  God pursued us when were fighting against Him (verse 10). 
 
Truly, it is only by the grace of God that we are saved!

— Mike Johnson