When God Pursues Us
Psalm 23 has become very dear to my soul this year. As I reflected upon it last night I was struck with the wonder of verse 6, “Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,”. If we take this short statement and unpack it for just a moment I believe we will end up with tears streaming down our cheeks in open mouthed wonder at the unprecedented and matchless love of God for us.
When the Lord is our Shepherd there are certain facts, certain realities that are inevitably true. One of which is simply this, God’s goodness, God’s lovingkindness will pursue me everyday for the rest of my life. God’s compassionate care, His overflowing kindness, His abundant mercy, His sacrificial love, His limitless wisdom are not merely available to the particularly persistent and passionate servant who seeks out the Lord. No. God is the one doing the pursuing. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is actively watching over your life. Part of this watch care is the ongoing pursuit of us by his goodness and love! He pursues us with the intention to lavish kindness, compassion, grace, mercy, and love upon us without measure! Do you see the staggering nature of this promise? This is much the same as the purpose for which God saves us from sin and death, “in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” (Eph 2:7).
God has redeemed you, justifying and adopting you, for the express purpose of ravishing you with love and kindness in such a way that the inexhaustible supply of His abundant love is revealed throughout the rest of eternity! God is after you my friend, but not in anger! He is not pursuing us in wrath and vengeance! No! He is pursuing us with goodness and faithful love! Oh, praise the Name of the Lord our God!
How certain are we of this promise? “Surely” - it is an established and certain fact! God’s goodness and faithful love will pursue us. He does not say maybe. He does not imply uncertainty. When YHWH is our Shepherd goodness and love pursue us certainly and surely.
Goodness and lovingkindness are the two pursuers of God’s sheep. God has sent His goodness as well as His faithful love to run down his sheep - to catch them and smother them in an unending experience of mercy and joy! I have two grandsons and I love to pursue them across the living room floor. They squeal with delight, knowing I’m going to catch them and tickle them and smother them with kisses. They know we are going wrestle and I’m going to “body slam” them on the couch. They know they are going to get caught but they love it! There are times where they even hesitate, waiting to see if I’m coming before they “run”! Why? It is because they love being caught by their Papa! They know they are safe. They know they are loved. They know they are with one who wants only their joy and happiness. They know that He is pursuing them to make their little hearts squeal with gladness! They enjoy their Papa and this is how I believe God is pursuing us beloved! He chases us and we love being caught in the warm embrace of His unending and matchless love!
How long can we expect this to go on? Micaiah and Maddox can play the same game over and over. My old bones start to get tired but I love their joy so much that I keep going as long as I can. Notice what this text is promising you! This pursuit of God’s love and kindness is not for a few days. It is not for a few years. It is not for when you are particularly in tune with God. It is not when you are regularly practicing your religion. No! He pursues us “ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE.” All the days of my life! There is not a single day in which God grows tired of pursuing us with goodness and love! There is not a single moment in the span of your life, a life by the way that will never end because of Christ, in which Jesus is not pursuing you with a relentless zeal to lavish you with kindness and love, to pour out the perfect goodness of His presence upon your life!
Does this mean your life will be filled with only pleasant experiences? No, not at all. There are times when I tell my grandsons no, or when I redirect them away from areas or activities that I know will bring them harm and misery. They do not understand and they grow frustrated with their “will” being thwarted but I am just as intensely pursuing them with love, striving to do what is good for them, to maximize their joy and gladness in life. How much more does the all knowing, all wise, all powerful God pursue us with goodness and love? He will correct and redirect us. At times this will seem particularly unpleasant but as we look back over the course of our life we will see the gentle but ever present goodness and faithful love of God running after us to maximize our present and unending eternal gladness in God Himself!
Do you doubt God’s love? Do not doubt any longer. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will pursue you all the days of your life! It is certain! It is true! It is marvelous! It is glorious! Oh my friends, may we squeal with the delight of praise as God catches us this day!