Question 1

Why does God pursue me?

Accepted Answer

Exodus 34:6The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.”Nehemiah 9:17“They refused to obey and did not remember the miracles you had done for them. Instead, they became stubborn and appointed a leader to take them back to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love. You did not abandon them.”Psalm 23:6Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.Psalm 57:10Your unfailing love is as high as the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.Psalm 100:5The Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.Psalm 117:2His unfailing love for us is powerful; the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the Lord!Psalm 118:1Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.Isaiah 54:10“For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the Lord, who has mercy on you.Jeremiah 3:12Therefore, go and give this message to Israel. This is what the Lord says: “O Israel, my faithless people, come home to me again, for I am merciful. I will not be angry with you forever.”Jeremiah 31:3Long ago the Lord said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.”Zechariah 8:2“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: My love for Mount Zion is passionate and strong; I am consumed with passion for Jerusalem!”God created us, loves us, and longs to have a relationship with us. So he pursues us with persistent and unfailing love. How long before he gets your attention?Luke 15:1-7Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them! So Jesus told them this story: “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!”Caught in the act of pursuing sinful people, Jesus told a story of God’s pursuit of sinners. Jesus was practicing what he preached. He was living out the story he told.

Question 2

What is God looking for in his pursuit of me?

Accepted Answer

Jeremiah 3:22“My wayward children,” says the Lord, “come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.” “Yes, we’re coming,” the people reply, “for you are the Lord our God.”Ezekiel 33:11“As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?”Luke 15:4“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?”Luke 19:10“The Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”Acts 3:26“When God raised up his servant, Jesus, he sent him first to you people of Israel, to bless you by turning each of you back from your sinful ways.”Romans 3:22, 29We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. . . . After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is.God is pursuing those who don’t know him yet, and those who have turned away from him.Psalm 103:13The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.Jeremiah 3:19“I thought to myself, ‘I would love to treat you as my own children!’ I wanted nothing more than to give you this beautiful land—the finest possession in the world. I looked forward to your calling me ‘Father,’ and I wanted you never to turn from me.”Hosea 2:16-23“When that day comes,” says the Lord, . . . “I will show love to those I called ‘Not loved.’ And to those I called ‘Not my people,’ I will say, ‘Now you are my people.’ And they will reply, ‘You are our God!’”Romans 1:7I am writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.1 Thessalonians 1:4We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people.1 John 3:1See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.God is looking for a personal relationship with each person he has created. He pursues us not to get something from us, but to give something wonderful to us—help, hope, power, salvation, joy, peace, and eternal life. No wonder he pursues us! He knows how much these gifts can transform our lives forever.Deuteronomy 4:29“But from there you will search again for the Lord your God. And if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him.”Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.Luke 11:9“So I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”God is looking for those who will acknowledge him, depend on him, ask of him, and seek him as he reveals himself. God never hides from those who are ready to respond to his pursuit.1 Kings 8:23He [Solomon] prayed, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven above or on the earth below. You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion.”Nehemiah 1:5Then I said, “O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands.”Psalm 147:11No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love.Proverbs 15:9The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue godliness.Isaiah 51:1“Listen to me, all who hope for deliverance—all who seek the Lord! Consider the rock from which you were cut, the quarry from which you were mined.”God is looking for those who are seeking him, and he will always find and be found by them. But you must “seek the Lord while you can find him. Call upon him now while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6). We need to pursue God in response to his pursuit of us. God is looking for our response to him.

Question 3

In what ways does God pursue me?

Accepted Answer

Nehemiah 9:30“In your love, you were patient with them for many years. You sent your Spirit, who warned them through the prophets. But still they wouldn’t listen! So once again you allowed the peoples of the land to conquer them.”John 16:5-15“Now I am going away to the One who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. . . . When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’”Romans 5:5This hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.God pursues us with his Holy Spirit. He does this before we become followers of Jesus, and he continues to pursue us through the Spirit with guidance, support, resources, and the truth of his Word.Luke 19:10“For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”John 1:14So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.John 1:17The law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.John 12:32“And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”1 John 4:9-10God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.God pursues us through his Son, Jesus Christ. God demonstrated the pursuing nature of his love by sending his Son to reveal his unfailing love to us in person.Psalm 16:8I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.Psalm 139:7-12I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.Isaiah 43:5“Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east and west.”God pursues us with his constant presence. He is always with us.Genesis 16:7The angel of the Lord found Hagar beside a spring of water in the wilderness, along the road to Shur.1 Kings 19:3-8Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.” Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again. Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God.Daniel 9:21-23As I was praying, Gabriel, whom I had seen in the earlier vision, came swiftly to me at the time of the evening sacrifice. He explained to me, “Daniel, I have come here to give you insight and understanding. The moment you began praying, a command was given. And now I am here to tell you what it was, for you are very precious to God. Listen carefully so that you can understand the meaning of your vision.”Acts 12:6-11The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered. So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was actually happening. They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him. Peter finally came to his senses. “It’s really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!”God pursues us with his angels. God demonstrates his love in times of special need by sending his spiritual messengers to help and encourage us.2 Kings 17:13Again and again the Lord had sent his prophets and seers to warn both Israel and Judah: “Turn from all your evil ways. Obey my commands and decrees—the entire law that I commanded your ancestors to obey, and that I gave you through my servants the prophets.”Jeremiah 25:4“Again and again the Lord has sent you his servants, the prophets, but you have not listened or even paid attention.”Jeremiah 26:4-6“If you will not listen to my servants, the prophets—for I sent them again and again to warn you, but you would not listen to them—then I will destroy this Temple as I destroyed Shiloh.”Jeremiah 44:4“Again and again I sent my servants, the prophets, to plead with them, ‘Don’t do these horrible things that I hate so much.’”God pursues us through other people in our lives. We must learn to listen for God’s voice in what others say to us.Psalm 51:1Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.Isaiah 44:22“I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.”Jeremiah 3:22“My wayward children,” says the Lord, “come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.” “Yes, we’re coming,” the people reply, “for you are the Lord our God.”1 John 1:7If we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.God pursues us with his forgiveness because he longs to have a close relationship with us.Exodus 19:4“You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.”Deuteronomy 1:31“‘You saw how the Lord your God cared for you all along the way as you traveled through the wilderness, just as a father cares for his child. Now he has brought you to this place.’”Job 10:12“You gave me life and showed me your unfailing love. My life was preserved by your care.”Psalm 31:7I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul.God pursues us by showing us his loving care. He sees us in our anguish and longs to bring us comfort.Exodus 15:13“With your unfailing love you lead the people you have redeemed. In your might, you guide them to your sacred home.”Psalm 25:10The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.Psalm 139:8-10If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.Hosea 2:14“But then I will win her back once again. I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her there.”God pursues us by leading and guiding us—sometimes to secluded, quiet out-of-the-way places. His presence is so constant that it often feels like pursuit.Psalm 6:4Return, O Lord, and rescue me. Save me because of your unfailing love.Psalm 13:5I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me.Psalm 17:7Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways. By your mighty power you rescue those who seek refuge from their enemies.God pursues us with his salvation. He rescues us from sin and then continues to rescue us along the road to eternity.Psalm 23:1-2The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.Isaiah 40:11He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.God pursues us by reaching out to meet our deepest and most basic needs.

Question 4

Does God ever stop pursuing us?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 89:2Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.Amos 5:4-6Now this is what the Lord says to the family of Israel: “Come back to me and live! Don’t worship at the pagan altars at Bethel; don’t go to the shrines at Gilgal or Beersheba. For the people of Gilgal will be dragged off into exile, and the people of Bethel will be reduced to nothing.” Come back to the Lord and live!Zechariah 1:3“Therefore, say to the people, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.’”Romans 8:39No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.2 Peter 3:9The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.God pursues us much farther and longer than any of us deserve. God’s love relentlessly calls everyone to turn from sin and into an eternal relationship with him. While his desire is that none would perish, he allows us the freedom to return his love or to reject him and spend eternity apart from him and his love. The choice is ours.Matthew 12:31-36“Every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come. A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.”Mark 3:28-29“I tell you the truth, all sin and blasphemy can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. This is a sin with eternal consequences.”Hebrews 9:27-28Just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.Death marks the stopping point of God’s pursuit of us by his Spirit. The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is ultimately expressed when we refuse to admit our sinful condition before God and accept his remedy. The possibility of repentance is always there until the point of death, but then comes judgment and no other opportunities.

Pursuit by God