3 May

Seeking to Pursue

posted by Jody Johnston

Recently I went on a trip with some friends I like to hang out with. We were all sitting around one night and I asked my buddies, “What do you think it takes to grow in your relationship with Christ?”

Now I asked the question to stir up some conversation, but I have to admit I was very surprised at their answers. When I say “surprised,” I’m not referring to the good kind of “surprised.” I was saddened how they responded. My heart was hurt and I felt so discouraged. Their answers focused on church attendance on Sundays and “being a good person” the rest of the week. No one mentioned pursuing the love that God gives or becoming more aware of the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. The best word I can find in the Bible to describe the type of growing I was talking about is “seeking.”

I discovered that the word “seek” appears in the Bible more than 150 times. In order to grow in our relationship with Christ we must pursue that growth, and want it.

I am 17-years-old, as are the majority of my friends who I was with when I asked that question. I knew they knew what it meant to pursue because I see them pursue all the time. Girls are always on a seventeen-year-old guy’s mind. I have seen my friends pursue girls since we were in the seventh grade, so I knew they knew what it meant to pursue. I asked one of my closest friends what happens when he gets a crush on a beautiful lady. Would he just walk by when he saw her, or would he stop and try to have a conversation with her? He admitted he would attempt to talk to her. I asked him if he would get her phone number and then call her. Once again he said yes. I asked if he would go out of his way to see her at her locker, or if he would stand by his own locker and hope she would happen to pass by. He said he would go out of his way to see her.

I have learned that seeking God is “more than a Sunday drive.” It’s part of our journey and we are all in pursuit together. Matthew 6:33 reads: “Seek first the Kingdom of God.” I love how in verse 34, Christ says, “Don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself.” I am learning if I wait to seek God I might miss him or not seek Him at all. The worst place to be is away from Christ!

My prayer has been “Daddy, you are so mind-blowing! You’ve blessed me with so much and I thank you for it all. Thank you for loving me so much more than I can even imagine! I love you, and I pray that my thirst to see your glory and be filled with your righteousness will never end!

Filed in: Relationship, Responding to God

About the Author

Jody Johnston is a 17-year old student, athlete, and worship leader. He attends Hendersonville High School, where he is active in FCA and Select Chorus. In his free time, he loves to play Ultimate Frisbee and boulder.

Read more about Jody here.