I hope you have been sensing God's presence with you this week as we are taking this journey together. I pray God is drawing you closer to Himself as we consider who we are and what He has done for us through Jesus.
And Isaiah boldly says,
"I was found by those who did not seek me;
I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me."
Romans 10:20
As I was reading through the book of Romans, this verse in chapter 10 captured me, and I want to stop here on our journey and discuss it with you for a minute, or two.
This verse captured me, because it describes me so accurately. I grew up going to church and I thought I was a Christian because of my religious activity. I had no idea I needed to have a personal relationship with God. Didn't know I needed to respond to what Jesus did on the cross for me!
I was neither seeking God, nor asking for Him.
I just assumed everything was fine.
BUT, when I was a freshman in college God boldly and gently (Yes, He can be both of those things at the same time!) revealed Himself to me. I understood my need for a Savior, and I entered into a relationship with God through Jesus.
And this verse in Romans 10 gave me pause to reflect on the wonder that I had nothing to do with my salvation.
I didn't earn it. Only Jesus could do that!
And I didn't pursue it. He found me!
So my question for the journey today is this: If you are in a personal relationship with God right now, how did that relationship come about? What are the things God did, the events and people He brought into your life, as He pursued you? Please take some time to reflect on these thoughts, and then give thanks to God for His love and goodness toward you.
Even if you have yet to begin that relationship, can you see how He has been pursuing you? I cannot find the words to describe how very much God loves you. But I know He does! Please spend some time - even now - thinking about Jesus' love for you. Ask God to speak to your heart and to help you understand His love.
And let's meet back here tomorrow for one more stop on this journey.
11 comments:
I am thankful for the friends he has brought me on my amazing Christian journey. Lord, thank you for Karen! Be blessed today friend.
Funny...isn't it? It just goes to show you how deep pride can run in our sinful nature. To think that we pursued God! Dead men. Dead people don't do anything. LOL! It is funny you should post this. I have a blog next week about how I ran across a old prayer journal that confirmed that all along God had been pursuing me! It is hard for me to say when it was that I finally stopped fighting...yet I wasn't really fighting. He was just completing the good work He had began...and He still completes it. What a journey! Love you!
Angela - Thanks. I think I will be. *grin*
Leslie - I love reading through old journals - remembering how I thought I would never make it through a certain circumstance, and sitting in wonder as I consider how God worked it all out.
Looking forward to reading your post next week!
Yes, His love is special to me. And He lets me see this everyday through His blessings upon my family.
Angie - I think if we opened our eyes more, we would see His love more and more every day.
I think he pursued me for a good 10 years (well, in reality, my whole life) before I even stopped to listen. Man all the time I wasted!!
Great post Karen!!
Blessings-
Amanda
I wasted a lot of time, too, Amanda. But we have ETERNITY ahead of us now!
I am a "cradle Catholic", baptized at 1 month old, went to Catholic school, went to Mass every Sunday...but honestly, had NO IDEA what it meant to have a personal relationship with Jesus UNTIL we brought our sweet daughter home from China & I was at a loss as to how to teach her about Jesus. I was lucky enough to meet some amazing mommas through the adoption journey. THese women had an incredible faith & I though, "what am I missing?" Which led me to start reading my Bible every day & "re-learning" my faith all over again. I am so incredibly blessed that He has called me back!! (Although, I am sure He was with me all along ;)
I think I have learned more in the last 2 years than I have from all those years in Catholic school!!
Patricia - That is a wonderful story! So you adopted and were adopted through the same event! LOVE how HE works things out so perfectly.
Praise Him for His faithful pursuit of YOU!
God's been revealing himself to me from the earliest of ages. My family life, along with church life, played a huge role in developing my healthy understanding of who God IS. There were many moments of clarity along the way, but when I was thirteen, I was at a youth camp retreat, watching a slide show on the crucifixion of Jesus (the pain, etc.). I was so moved by that depiction, I literally could not stop sobbing for hours. God changed my heart that night.
Life with Christ moved to a deeper level in that season and his love for me, more real. It's been 30 years since that time, and I still feel it, live it like it was yesterday.
A Good Friday remembrance. A good Friday, indeed.
peace~elaine
Elaine - My daughter is 13 right now (Well, for 10 more days, anyway!) and I pray she will have a story like yours. God has her heart already, that is clear. I pray she will continue to know Him more, just like you did!
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