The Relentless Pursuit: Finding Life In The Present Tense

The Relentless Pursuit: Finding Life in the Present Tense

Proverbs 21:21 declares a profound truth: “He who pursues righteousness and mercy finds life.” The Hebrew word translated “pursue” carries a visceral intensity, akin to “to hunt.” This isn’t a passive interest, but an active, focused, and relentless chase. We are called to hunt after righteousness and mercy, to pursue them with every fiber of our being, to run after them with unbridled zeal.

Consider the present tense of the Proverb: “He who pursues.” It doesn’t state that the one who has pursued righteousness is blessed, but the one who is presently pursuing it. This is a crucial distinction. The pursuit of God and His righteousness is not a past accomplishment to rest upon, but an ongoing, dynamic reality. One of the gravest errors believers can make is to relegate their pursuit of God to a bygone era.

They may have once burned with passion, but over time, the embers cool, and the chase ceases. However, a past pursuit, no matter how fervent, cannot confer present blessing. It is the continual, active pursuit in the present moment that yields life and blessing.

This relentless pursuit becomes our aim, our strategic plan, our daily occupation, and indeed, our profound joy. As we continually chase after God and His righteousness, we are continually infused with new life and fresh blessings.

This echoes the fervent exhortation in 1 Timothy 6:11 to the “man of God”: “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.”

The command is clear: abandon what hinders, and actively chase after the virtues that define a life devoted to Christ.

Today, let this be your unwavering goal: to actively pursue God with an unquenchable passion! Do not merely walk; run after Him with all your might.

Heavenly Father, we confess that often our pursuit of You wanes. We allow the cares of this world, the distractions of life, and the comfortable familiarity of our faith to dull our zeal. Forgive us for resting on past encounters and for failing to press into Your presence daily. Rekindle within us a burning hunger for Your righteousness and mercy. Grant us the strength to flee from all that hinders us and to relentlessly chase after You with renewed passion, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. May our lives be a testament to a present, active, and joyful pursuit of Your heart, that we may continually find life and blessing in Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Christian life is not a static state, but a dynamic pursuit. We are not called to arrive and then cease to strive, but to run the race with endurance, always pressing toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼