Good morning all! Father, we know that You have provided all that is in our hands today. We know that You are the gift giver, You withhold no good thing to those that love You. Let us always pursue You in this life and pursue Your desires that we might know the love of the Father instead of the love of the world, Amen. We all have many pursuits in life, many of them are good, if not inspiring. Do you suppose God has pursuits? Do they matter? What are His pursuits?

1 Timothy 6

1Ti 6:7 KJV – For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
Ha! The truth we forget too often…whatever you have today be it much or not, you will keep NOTHING from this world.

1Ti 6:8 KJV – And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
You have something to eat and a shirt to wear…let us be CONTENT.

1Ti 6:9 KJV – But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
But those that look to become rich will fall into trials and traps, and into many foolish situations and pursuits that will hurt them, which DROWN men in destruction and hell.

1Ti 6:10 KJV – For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
For the pursuit of money is the root of ALL evil: which some pursue after, and are NOT living by faith, and hurt themselves and create many problems.

1Ti 6:11 KJV – But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
But you, O man of God, run from that lifestyle; and PURSUE righteousness, live for God, hold onto faith, love others, in adversity wait on them and always esteem others before yourself.

Bottom line

Can you have a real pursuit without any heart?

Jhn 6:39 NIV – And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. God has nothing but heart in is pursuit for US, so much so He left heaven in His pursuit for you and I. Did you see why He did that? I shall lose NONE. I’m not sure if we’ll ever really comprehend the depth of God’s love for us, but I do know we are His greatest pursuit. And I know what His heart looks like, it’s a cross, it’s Calvary. Now why was that so necessary?

Mar 15:37 KJV – And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. It was necessary so we could all get closer to God, He had to tear open that veil because it kept us from a real intimacy with God…simply put He can’t get enough of us. Ever feel that way about someone? If you did I bet you pursued them…you feel me? If you ever feel anything less than God’s unfailing love for you, they’re NOT true feelings…that’s the lie. Think about that truth for at least a few seconds…God’s love for us never stops even in the face of our pursuits that don’t include Him, He will still pursue you because of His love for you. When you and I pursue riches in this life instead of God we fall into a trap, and when we do that it causes us MANY foolish hurts. Money isn’t the problem, it’s loving money that’s the problem and when we do we have made an error in life. We have forgotten about a life of faith, He said you got something to wear today? Something to eat? Good, be CONTENT. Let me make break this down real simple this morning…FAITH=being CONTENT in this life. I pray we’re content wherever with whatever we have this morning, that’s what a life of faith looks like. It doesn’t mean we’re satisfied, that’s why we pursue righteousness, living for God, loving others and being patient wherever we find ourselves. Notice, sorrow doesn’t come from pursuing a life of faith, it comes from  pursuing anything else besides faith. Now where do you find yourself this morning?

Pro 30:8 NLT – First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?” And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name. I absolutely love this proverb, first prayer to God is to HELP me NEVER tell a lie, what’s the lie? Same lie Adam and Eve fell for, they took from the wrong tree. Everybody else is taking from that tree, why not me too? Well, it does lead to death. When those feelings rise up and tell us to pursue whatever because everyone does, that’s the lie…help me Lord not to accept those lying feelings. Second, Lord don’t give me poverty or riches…so much for the prosperity message Ha! So, how do we know what God considers poverty or what’s riches? Or perhaps we should look at the part of the scripture that deals with our relationship with God instead? Hmm…I’m going with the relationship since we’re supposed to pursue Him. Never mind what’s in your bank account this morning, don’t DENY Him and don’t INSULT Him…pursue God alone. Now we probably all have a few bucks on us, it really don’t matter…what does?

Psa 62:10 NIV – Do not trust in extortion or put vain hope in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them. God’s looking for the heart of faith, the same as His. Call me crazy, but maybe He wants us to pursue Him with the same love He pursues us…don’t deny Him or insult Him…let nothing stand in your way of loving Him.

Point to Ponder

How much pavement do you have in your bank account? Rev 21:21 KJV – And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. Yeah…you don’t have any pavement in your bank, it’s worthless, except for that fact you need something to walk on…I pray the riches of this life are nothing more than a place for us to the lay the soles of our feet…same as God in heaven…no influence on how we live our life.

Let’s all pursue a life of faith, In Him Phil

Faith – Family – Friends