God's Relentless Pursuit of Man
74Man running from God
Mini Devotion Series
As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. Ezekiel 34:12.
Man is at his best when seeking God. In the kneeling attitude of man in the quest for God, we have the romance of the Gospel.
Theologically, however, it is God seeking man rather than man seeking God. The history of man is the story of God’s relentless pursuit of man. Running and hiding among the trees of the garden, God pinpoints our first parents and ask Adam, Where are you? Running away from Sarai, God found Hagar by a fountain of water in the wilderness, and she responds with, "You are the God who sees me." Isaac is haunted by the Great Unseen and God catches the crafty Jacob and wrestles with him by the river Jabbok. He pursues Moses out into the desert, sought Gideon while he was grinding grain and chose him to free the children of Israel. He calls Samuel in the silent watches of the night, goes out into the hills after David, finds Elijah in a cave and Job on a heap of ashes. He pursues Saul on the Damascus Road and finds Jonah in the belly of a large fish.
Man runs from God because we are sinful. As soon as Adam sinned, he begin to run and man has been running away from God ever since. We run and attempt to hide out of fear of being confronted with our transgressions before a holy God. “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed." John 3:20.
God relentlessly pursues man because He knows He is our greatest need. Even though we rebel against Him and pursue our own sin-filled interests,His quest continues. While you were doing all these things, declares the Lord, I spoke to you again and again, but you did not listen; I called you, but you did not answer. Jeremiah 7:13. He pursues us because of His undying love for us. It is God’s nature to love. As long as He loves, He will seek the sinner.
What a stupendous thought: Almighty God in pursuit of man!
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No, He is not being slow. Because we live in "time" and God outside time (eternity) it is difficult for us to comprehend God's timetable. God is not slow, but as you said, patient. Still, the "time" God has set is the time Jesus will be returning, and not a second sooner or later. Come Lord Jesus, Come!
Thank you for the read and the comments peacenhim.
Hi RevLady, yet another wake up for us and a new insight, its interesting that for years and years God knocked at my door and I refused to open it. He knocked through all sorts of storms and yet I refused.
It was the day that I finally opened the door did I know His love and come to seek His refuge, He still pursues because He loves us all, never wanting to loose one through a closed door.
Well done RevLady...well done
Blessings
Thank you Quill. If it was not for God's relentless pursuit, none of us would have a chance. Even so, the road to the city of God is narrow.
RevLady - Very, very well said. Loved that phrase "romance of the Gospel". Not sure if I have ever thought about it like that before. Thanks for spurring my brain into gear. Blessings to you.
You cannot fool me Ken. I have read your hubs. Your brain is always in gear (smile).
Thanks for the read and your ongoing support.
this is wonderful Revlady, relentless pursuit indeed,only HE can be like that, I pray we have some little of it, nice hub, maita
That is my prayer too prettydarkhorse, thank you.
SOOOOOOOOOOOOO, TRUE!!! GREAT HUB! I am so glad that I came to my senses and teamed up with my God!! One of my songs on my Cd, Time Is Winding Up! Is a WAKE-UP call for all those who are playing around with there life and the call that God has on it! The lyrics say: "Don't hesitate, it might be to late, Your time is Winding Up! Much love RevLady, your GREAT!!!
I too am glad the Lord found me. I shutter to think of what "I might have been" had it not been for His finding me in the "snows" of Michigan some 40 years ago.
Sounds like "Time Is Winding Up!" is a CD that will top the charts. Good luck with it.
Love and hugs,
Hello, RevLady, what a wonderful, eye-opening read.
Makes me glad that God is not like man.
And His love for us, who can fathom?
His love is truly awesome and I agree with you, godpreacher, I am glad God is not like man. Thank you for commenting my colleague in the gospel ministry.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful insight. We became what we are because of God's longsuffering and stubborn love. We become faithful only because God is first faithful.
Yes Cristina, because of God's stubborn love. What a mighty God we serve!
Thank you so much for visiting and commenting. Enjoy the holiday season as you remember the reason for it.
Love and hugs,
RevLady,
The thought of God the almighty pursueing me is beyond wonderful. I remember getting my head turned in High School when a cheerleader had a crush on me !!! How comforting to know that the one true God has found me to be so enticing as to seek me out !!
It is a wonder isn't it. He pursued and found me literally in the snows of Michigan many years ago. Now, I pursue Him.
Thank you Presigo and Blessings,
Rev Lady, This is an insightful thought provoking hub! I love your term "Romance of the the Gospel." The Gospel is definitely a Powerful, Wonderful History about Jesus' Love for mankind! Instead of running from God one needs to run to Him.
Thank you for sharing, Love & Blessings!
This surely true and yet amazing. If God wants you, He's going to get you. You can hear His whisper and go quietly (recommended) and you can fight Him, in which case He will get your attention by whatever means necessary.
DeBorrah, Thank God that He loves us with an unfailing love. Man will always run, but we cannot hide. Sooner or later we will encounter the God of the Ages. Thank you for your comments.
James, thank you for stopping by. It is indeed true, God will get our attention by any means necessary. I am a personal witness and I thank Him for finding me and saving my wayward soul.
Love, hugs, blessings to you both!
Hello Reverend Lady, though I know you are not able to answer us right now, you’ve been absent – and not by choice, I understand – I have come to read what the Holy Spirit has led you to write.
Since your absence I have not come to see you hubs, but I am here today, and what great timing, too. This hub has spoken to my much-need-of-lifting spirits. Always some new challenge in life, new trials to face…such is life.
The scripture at the beginning of this hub, from Ezekiel 34:12, has spoken and eased my heart. Praise the Lord!!
“As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.” HALLELUJAH!
God is in pursuit of ME. He will NEVER abandon me. He will ALWAYS love me. And I love what Mr. Watkins says in this hub, “You can hear His whisper and go quietly (recommended)…”
Please know that you are greatly missed these last many days. We are believing, by Faith, that our gracious and wonderful Lord is taking good care of you.
All my love and GIANT big hugs, in Christ Jesus,
VKA
All glory to God, Truly He relentlessly pursues us and woos us. He loves us so. If only we could understand the enormity of His Love.
I miss you guys as well. He is directing my path and I must follow. I know that all things are working for my good. Please know that I am in perfect peace if not perfect circumstances right now.
Love and hugs dear heart,
What truly blessed confromation about the pursue of man by the Almighty God I was just thinking to myself today while driving in the company work truck how I was in pursue of God and nothing else really matters,I just want to seek all of him,and the thought bcross my mind likeI wonder if God pursue man like we pursue him,so I called my Psator,I first tlod him I had something I wanted to ask him,all though it may sound a bit crazy but I'm going to ask any how,do you think God pursue man like we pursue him,He said yes its like a little child playing a game of tag with his child
All glory to God!! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.
Forever His,
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peacenhim 2 years ago
Good lesson, and very true! This Scripture comes to mind regarding this piece you've written. "The Lord isn't really being slow about His promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent." 2 Peter 3:9
(New Living Translation). ((Amazing Grace)).