What are you pursuing?
The “trend” of this world says “pursue what makes you happy!” and with that propaganda being pushed everywhere you turn, it’s too easy to fall into that mindset — ask me how I know. I mean, even the Declaration of Independence states:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”
I read this, and I immediately think of these scriptures.
- The first, where Jesus Christ is speaking in John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
- The second, again, Jesus speaking, Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”
- The third, Ecclesiastes 11:13 (AMPC) “All has been heard; the end of the matter is: Fear God [revere and worship Him, knowing that He is] and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man [the full, original purpose of his creation, the object of God's providence, the root of character, the foundation of all happiness, the adjustment to all inharmonious circumstances and conditions under the sun] and the whole [duty] for every man.”
Our unalienable rights, pulled straight from the scriptures… God has come that we might have life, and have it more abundantly. He alone can give liberty — and the foundation of HAPPINESS is in reverencing & worshipping HIM and keeping His commandments, which is our original purpose!
Think about that.
The very foundation of ALL HAPPINESS is fulfilling our original purpose - the very reason for our creation - and that is simply reverencing [God], worshipping [God], and obeying the commandments given by…. you guessed it! GOD!
So… what are you pursuing today? This week? This month? This year?
“He who earnestly seeks after and craves righteousness, mercy, and loving-kindness will find life in addition to righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God) and honor. [Prov. 15:9; Matt. 5:6.]”
Proverbs 21:21 AMPC
Do you want Life (and life abundantly)?
Pursue righteousness (right-standing with God) and unfailing Love. 1 John 4:8 tells us that God is Love.
“But as for you, O man of God, flee from all these things; aim at and pursue righteousness (right standing with God and true goodness), godliness (which is the loving fear of God and being Christlike), faith, love, steadfastness (patience), and gentleness of heart. Fight the good fight of the faith; lay hold of the eternal life to which you were summoned and [for which] you confessed the good confession [of faith] before many witnesses.”
1 Timothy 6:11-12 AMPC
“Shun youthful lusts and flee from them, and aim at and pursue righteousness (all that is virtuous and good, right living, conformity to the will of God in thought, word, and deed); [and aim at and pursue] faith, love, [and] peace (harmony and concord with others) in fellowship with all [Christians], who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart.”
2 Timothy 2:22 AMPC
We need fellowship with like-minded people. We need each other - encouraging each other in the Lord.
When we repent of our sins and flee worldly lusts, God redeems us by His Blood.
When we surrender our life, our WILL, our desires - and earnestly pray God’s will be done in our life - our children’s lives, our family’s lives, our neighbor’s lives, a strangers life… There’s a peace that comes.
A Peace that can staunch any adversary.
Anxiety has to flee.
Boundaries are reestablished.
Coping mechanisms change.
Depression has to go.
Ego bows down.
Faith is renewed.
Grace abounds.
Heaven rejoices.
Miracles happen.
Temptation fumes as you laugh in his face.
He is the Peace that can restore broken relationships. The Peace that can break addictions. The Peace that can restore estranged parents with their children. The Peace that can give rest to the weary mind. The Peace that binds up the broken hearted. The Peace that can restore JOY.
His name is Jesus.
And he wants so much for you to turn to Him…
And if you feel for a moment your sin is to great for His forgiveness… remember this:
♡pw
