Daily Devo
In Hot Pursuit
By: Keefe Wilson
Monday, April 29, 2024
"Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." 2 Timothy 2:22
I remember the first time I ever saw my wife Anita. She was just walking down the street, but she looked so pretty I was instantly captivated! From that day forward, I was in "hot pursuit" of her heart. To pursue means to seek, follow, or fervently chase after someone or something to capture it.
I started doing everything in my power to get her attention... things like taking more baths, putting on extra cologne, and writing love notes that I put in her school locker. I wasn't even sure that she had noticed me until the day she approached me to tell me she didn't like me. Next, she told me that I was ugly, my family was ugly, and even my dog was ugly! But her comments didn't discourage me, they just confirmed that she noticed me, which made me pursue her even harder. I was finally able to win her heart with my unwavering pursuit, and she eventually agreed to become my beautiful wife.
God has pursued us from the day we were formed, but we must realize that He doesn't want us pursuing worldly ambitions or material gains that lead to our destruction. Instead, God wants us to pursue His righteousness, which leads to eternal life and endless blessings. 2 Timothy 2:22 urges us to be in "hot pursuit" of God's righteousness, which means aligning ourselves with His character and His will. This requires us to live a life marked by integrity, honesty, love, and moral uprightness in every area—including our thoughts, words, and actions. It also means standing firm in the face of temptation, resisting sin's allure, and always choosing to do what is right even when it is difficult or unpopular.
But how do we pursue God's righteousness?
- We commit to study God's Word and allow it to shape our understanding of what is right and good. (Psalm 119:105).
- We cultivate an active prayer life, and we depend on the Holy Spirit to guide us and give us strength to overcome our flesh.
- We seek God's presence all day long— living a life filled with acts of kindness, mercy, and love toward others.
Our pursuit of righteousness isn't accomplished in our own strength, it comes from God's grace and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. Christ follower, instead of chasing after life's fleeting pleasures and temporary gains, let's always be in "hot pursuit" of God's righteousness!