The Pursuit of God

1. Pursuing God: A Quest for Spiritual Intimacy

"To have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul's paradox of love, scorned indeed by the too-easily-satisfied religionist, but justified in happy experience by the children of the burning heart."

Continuous pursuit. The Christian life is not a one-time decision but a continuous pursuit of God. This pursuit is characterized by a deep hunger for God's presence and a constant desire to know Him more intimately.

Prevenient grace. The author emphasizes that our ability to seek God is itself a gift from Him. God initiates the relationship, drawing us to Himself through His prevenient grace. Our response to this divine initiative is to follow hard after Him, recognizing that even as we pursue God, we are already in His hand.

Beyond mere doctrine. True Christianity goes beyond mere intellectual assent to doctrines. It involves a personal, experiential knowledge of God that transforms the believer's entire being. This pursuit of God is not reserved for a select few but is the privilege and calling of every Christian.

2. The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing

"The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One."

Spiritual detachment. The author argues that true blessedness comes from detaching ourselves from material possessions and worldly desires. This detachment allows us to focus entirely on God, finding our ultimate satisfaction in Him alone.

Abraham's example. The story of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac is used to illustrate this principle. Abraham's obedience demonstrated his understanding that God was more valuable than even his most cherished possession - his son and heir.

Freedom from burden. By releasing our grip on earthly treasures, we free ourselves from the burden of constant comparison, fear of loss, and the endless pursuit of more. This spiritual poverty paradoxically leads to true wealth in God.

3. Removing the Veil: Encountering God's Presence

"The continuous and unembarrassed interchange of love and thought between God and the soul of the redeemed man is the throbbing heart of New Testament religion."

The barrier of self. The author identifies the "veil" that separates us from a full experience of God's presence as our self-life - our pride, self-righteousness, and self-centeredness. This veil must be removed for us to enter into deeper communion with God.

Painful process. Removing this veil is often a painful process, likened to a crucifixion of the self. It requires surrender, repentance, and a willingness to die to our own desires and ambitions.

Unveiled communion. Once the veil is removed, we can experience unhindered fellowship with God. This intimate communion is characterized by:

• Direct awareness of God's presence
• Continuous interchange of love and thought with God
• Transformation into Christ's likeness

4. Apprehending God: Faith as the Gaze of the Soul

"Faith is the gaze of a soul upon a saving God."

Faith as vision. The author redefines faith not as mere intellectual assent but as the soul's gaze upon God. This gaze is:

• Continuous and sustained
• Directed towards God's character and promises
• Transformative in its effect on the believer

Simplicity of faith. This understanding of faith simplifies the Christian life. Instead of complex rituals or theological systems, the essence of Christianity becomes the simple act of looking to God in trust and dependence.

Practical application. The author encourages readers to cultivate this gaze through:

• Regular meditation on Scripture
• Conscious effort to redirect thoughts to God throughout the day
• Practicing the presence of God in everyday activities

5. The Universal Presence: God's Immanence and Transcendence

"God is here. Wherever we are, God is here. There is no place, there can be no place, where He is not."

Omnipresence explained. The author emphasizes God's universal presence, distinguishing it from pantheism. God is both immanent (present within creation) and transcendent (distinct from and above creation).

Awareness of presence. While God is always present, our experience of His presence depends on our awareness and receptivity. The author encourages cultivating this awareness through:

• Deliberate focus on God's presence
• Removal of internal barriers (sin, unbelief)
• Practice of spiritual disciplines

Transformative impact. Recognizing God's constant presence transforms daily life:

• Every place becomes sacred
• Every moment an opportunity for worship
• Every task infused with divine significance

6. The Speaking Voice: God's Continuous Communication

"God is by His nature continuously articulate. He fills the world with His speaking Voice."

God's ongoing revelation. The author presents God as constantly communicating, not just in the written Word but through all of creation. This communication is:

• Continuous and present
• Universal in scope
• Varied in its forms (nature, conscience, Scripture, etc.)

Listening posture. To hear God's voice, we must cultivate a listening posture characterized by:

• Quietness and stillness
• Expectancy and openness
• Obedience to what we hear

Practical application. The author encourages readers to:

• Approach Scripture as a living, speaking Word
• Listen for God's voice in nature and everyday experiences
• Cultivate silence and solitude to better hear God's whispers

7. Restoring the Creator-Creature Relationship

"Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth."

Proper order. The author emphasizes the need to restore the proper relationship between Creator and creature. This involves:

• Recognizing God's supreme authority and worth
• Voluntarily submitting to His lordship
• Exalting God above all else in our lives

Practical surrender. This restoration is achieved through practical acts of surrender:

• Yielding our possessions, relationships, and ambitions to God
• Seeking God's glory rather than our own
• Aligning our will with God's will

Resulting freedom. Paradoxically, this surrender leads to true freedom and fulfillment:

• Release from the burden of self-promotion
• Joy in living for God's purposes
• Experience of God's power and presence in greater measure

8. Meekness and Rest: Finding Peace in Humility

"The meek man is not a human mouse afflicted with a sense of his own inferiority. Rather he may be in his moral life as bold as a lion and as strong as Samson; but he has stopped being fooled about himself."

True meekness defined. The author redefines meekness not as weakness but as strength under control. Meekness involves:

• Accurate self-assessment based on God's view
• Freedom from the need for self-promotion
• Willingness to let God defend and exalt

Rest through meekness. Embracing meekness leads to spiritual and emotional rest by:

• Releasing the burden of pride and pretense
• Freeing us from constant comparison with others
• Allowing us to find our worth in God alone

Practical steps. To cultivate meekness, the author suggests:

• Embracing our dependence on God
• Practicing contentment with God's evaluation of us
• Letting go of the need to impress others

9. The Sacrament of Living: Glorifying God in Everything

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

Holistic worship. The author challenges the dichotomy between sacred and secular, arguing that all of life can be an act of worship when done for God's glory. This includes:

• Everyday activities like eating and drinking
• Work and leisure
• Relationships and responsibilities

Intentional living. To make all of life a sacrament, we must:

• Cultivate awareness of God's presence in every moment
• Offer each task, no matter how mundane, as an act of worship
• Seek to glorify God in our attitudes and actions

Transformative perspective. This sacramental view of life leads to:

• Greater joy and meaning in everyday tasks
• Increased awareness of God's presence throughout the day
• A more integrated and holistic spirituality

Last updated: September 6, 2024