Jesus is in Hot Pursuit
Valentines Day…oh for some it’s a wonderful holiday and for others, they wish they could skip right over it, wishing to overlook the rows and rows of candy, stuffed animals, and other delights for loved ones lining the shelves of each and every store. Valentine’s Day began in the 3rd century as a Christian feast day honoring Saint Valentine, one of two men killed for preaching the good news. As with many other holidays, it has been commercialized into the celebration of romance and love, a day to lavish your loved ones with gifts.
We sing a song in church titled “Jesus, Lover of My Soul.” I’m probably not alone in this, but lover is not a word I would typically use referring to my Lord; however when we look to scripture of how He pursues us, we see that the word isn’t reserved just for romantic fiction and the Hallmark channel. He is in love with me; He pursues me like any man would pursue a woman in whom he is interested.
The definition of pursue is to follow someone or something in order to catch them. The first thing that comes to mind when I hear the word is a cop in hot pursuit, a car chase to catch a criminal. But as a believer, probably the best scripture to describe pursuit is Luke 15:4-6 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’” I remember on field trips when my children were young, when it was time to head back to the school, the teachers always did a head count to make sure all the kids were present and accounted for. Jesus is the teacher and we are the kids. If all have returned to the bus except little Johnny, even though it will delay the rest of the kids returning to school, He will go looking for little Johnny, UNTIL HE FINDS HIM. The scripture doesn’t say He looked for 10 minutes and then gave up, figuring someone else will find him and return him home. No, His love for you is relentless, He will never give up on you and He will never stop pursuing you.
So, this year, on this day, even if you don’t have someone to share it with, know that Jesus is in love with you. He will follow you in an attempt to catch you, and He will NEVER stop…like the Energizer Bunny…but that’s a story for another holiday!