In what ways does God pursue me? - Pursuit by God - TouchPoints

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.