Does God pursue us?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

God actively pursues us, which is evident throughout the Bible. God created us in His image for relationship and continued to seek us even after the fall, offering repeated opportunities for redemption. God’s pursuit is exemplified in Jesus, who came "to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10), and through the Holy Spirit, who leads, empowers, and prays for us. This ongoing pursuit is a testament of God’s deep love and desire for connection with us, as seen in His continuous efforts to draw us closer and help us grow in faith. God’s pursuit reminds us of His great love for us.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• From the time of creation, God has actively pursued a relationship with humanity. He created us in His own image with the ability to have relationship with Him (Genesis 1:27). God pursues us so that we may know Him and true life in Him.
• Because God is our Creator, He knows us well and cares about us individually (Psalm 139:13).
• God continued pursuing us even after the fall (Genesis 3:8–9). God sought Adam and Eve when they had sinned, asking, "Where are you?" (Genesis 3:9). He gave Cain an opportunity to overcome sin, saying, "Sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it" (Genesis 4:7).
• He created Israel to bless the world and bring them into restored relationship with Him, as stated, "In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Genesis 12:3). He sent prophets to reveal Himself and to call them back to Him, as seen in, "Return to me, and I will return to you" (Zechariah 1:3).
• Throughout the Bible, we see the call to pursue God, and we see the story of His pursuing us. In Jeremiah 29:13, God tells the Israelites, "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• God cares about us individually (Matthew 10:29–31).
• God has always had a desire to reconcile us to Himself; He sent His son Jesus "to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10). From creation to now, God has been pursuing connection with us because He loves us. Jesus came and lived and died for the sake of God pursuing us (John 3:16–18).
• Before we ever seek and find God, He is the one who first draws us to Himself (John 6:44; see also Psalm 53:2). Jesus told the parable of the shepherd going after the lost sheep and the parable of the lost coin to show us how intently God will pursue one lost soul (Luke 15:3–10).
• God continues to pursue us through the Holy Spirit, who indwells us, leading us in the ways of the Lord and bringing us freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17), love (Romans 5:5), and help (John 14:16–17). The Spirit also provides correction (2 Timothy 3:16) and empowers us to walk in obedience and bear spiritual fruit (Philippians 2:12–13; Galatians 5:16–25). He prays for us in our weakness (Romans 8:26), illuminates God's Word (John 15:1–11), unites and equips us as believers (1 Corinthians 12:4–7; Ephesians 4:1–6), and reminds us of our adoption and hope in God (Ephesians 1:3–14).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

God pursues us every day and in many different ways. We do not have to live this Christian life on our own—we live it in close fellowship with God because of the work of Jesus Christ and through the gift and power of the Holy Spirit. We have the benefit of God's Word, the privilege of coming to Him in prayer, and the blessing of fellow believers who walk alongside us and encourage us (Hebrews 10:24–25). We serve a God who pursues us and who loves us more than we can fully understand (Ephesians 3:14–19). What an amazing gift! What an amazing God!

UNDERSTAND

• From the beginning, God has actively sought a relationship with us.
• God’s pursuit is shown in Jesus coming to save the lost.
• God’s ongoing pursuit reflects His deep love for us.

REFLECT

• How has recognizing God's active pursuit of us impacted your personal relationship with Him?
• How have you experienced God's pursuit in your daily life, and what encouragement does it give you?
• When you have felt distant from God, how did His pursuit and love impact your relationship?

ENGAGE

• How does God pursuing us throughout the Bible shape our understanding of His character and intentions for humanity?
• How can the examples of God's pursuit in the Old and New Testaments inform our understanding of His ongoing efforts to reach us today?
• What practical steps can we take to be more responsive to God's pursuit?