We must constantly be pursuing God
Pursuing God above all else can sound like a step cost but He is the only thing worth pursuing over everything. We all find ourselves either satisfied with or pursuing for meaning and purpose. In a poignant sermon, Jim invites us to a profound realization—a moment when we gaze at the stars or witness the sunrise and acknowledge that God, the creator of it all, considers us the pinnacle of creation pursuing Him is a natural response. This revelation prompts a humble response, a gratitude expressed through worship. Paired with a profound quote from C. S. Lewis, we delve into the idea that God relentlessly pursues us, and our only fitting reply is an outpouring of gratitude.
Jim’s words carry a weight of reverence as he describes the awe-inspiring moment when we acknowledge the grandeur of creation. For many, this is a motivation to begin pursuing God. Whether under the night sky adorned with stars or during the dawn as the sun paints the horizon, the invitation is clear: recognize the divine craftsmanship behind it all. “God, you created all this, and I’m the Pinnacle creation,” Jim suggests, urging us to drop to our knees and say, “Thank you.” In this simple act of gratitude, we recognize the gift of one more day, one more breath, one more chance to make a difference and share our faith.
The repetition of “thank you” in Jim’s words echoes like a hymn, a melody of gratefulness for the gift of existence. It’s a call to appreciate the sacredness of life and acknowledge the divine presence that orchestrates the symphony of our existence. This gratitude extends beyond the immediate moment, becoming a rhythm in our lives, an ongoing response to the unending love God showers upon us.
“When you come to know God, the initiative lies on His side. If He does not show Himself, nothing you can do will enable you to find Him. He shows much more of Himself to some people than to others—not because He has favorites, but because it is impossible for Him to show Himself to a man whose whole mind and character are in the wrong condition. Just as sunlight, though it has no favorites, cannot be reflected in a dusty mirror as clearly as in a clean one”
C. S. Lewis
To further illuminate the divine pursuit, we turn to the wisdom of C. S. Lewis. His words echo a fundamental truth about our relationship with God: “When you come to knowing God, the initiative lies on His side.” Lewis asserts that if God does not reveal Himself, our efforts will be futile in finding Him. The quote underscores the idea that God, like the sun’s rays, reveals Himself more clearly to those with hearts and minds in the right condition.
The parallel between Lewis’s analogy of sunlight and the dusty mirror and Jim’s call to drop to our knees in gratitude is striking. The cleanliness of our spiritual mirror, shaped by our attitudes and openness, determines the clarity with which we perceive God pursuing us. God shows Himself abundantly not out of favoritism but in response to the receptivity of our hearts.
God Relentlesslu Pursing us:
From Genesis 1:1 to the proclamation of being the Alpha and Omega, God’s love remains a consistent thread through the tapestry of the Bible. Jim emphasizes this promise—a declaration woven through 66 books that echoes God’s enduring love for us. “Jesus loves you that much,” Jim declares, encapsulating the essence of God is actively pursuing us—a pursuit that culminated in sending His son.
It is within this relentless pursuit that the intersection of Jim’s sermon and Lewis’s quote becomes apparent. God’s initiative, as Lewis describes, is a manifestation of His unwavering love. Every sunrise, every star-lit night is a testament to God’s presence, beckoning us to acknowledge His pursuit.
The Only Appropriate Response:
As we grasp the depth of God pursuing us, our hearts are naturally drawn to worship. Gratitude, as expressed by Jim, becomes a form of worship—a response to the overwhelming love that surpasses our understanding. Worship, in this context, becomes a sacred dance of acknowledging God’s pursuit, a harmonious melody of thanksgiving.
In Jim’s humble acknowledgment of the need for gratitude, there’s an underlying humility that resonates with profound sincerity. He doesn’t position himself as a dispenser of divine wisdom but rather as a fellow traveler on the journey of faith, emphasizing that he, too, is in constant need of God seeking him. This humility echoes the essence of C. S. Lewis’s insight—that the revelation of God is intricately tied to the condition of our hearts and minds. In admitting his need for God’s pursuit, Jim invites us into a shared vulnerability, fostering a sense of unity in the recognition that we are all recipients of divine grace.
It is this humility that magnifies the beauty of gratitude and worship, underscoring the universal truth that every soul, regardless of its perceived stature, longs for the transformative touch of the divine. This humility is critical to pursuing God.
Jim’s sermon clip and C. S. Lewis’s quote intertwine to create a narrative of divine pursuing and human response. The stars, the sunrise, and every breath we take are reminders of God’s relentless love. Our gratitude, expressed through worship, becomes a harmonious response to the symphony of God’s pursuit. In Jim’s humble acknowledgment of the need for gratitude, there’s an underlying humility that resonates with profound sincerity.
This humility echoes the essence of C. S. Lewis’s insight—that the revelation of God is intricately tied to the condition of our hearts and minds. In admitting his need for God’s pursuit, Jim invites us into a shared vulnerability, fostering a sense of unity in the recognition that we are all recipients of divine grace. It is this humility that magnifies the beauty of gratitude and worship, underscoring the universal truth that every soul, regardless of its perceived stature, longs for the transformative touch of the divine. As we stand at the intersection of acknowledgment and response, we find ourselves enveloped in the transformative power of gratitude and worship.
