The God Who Pursues

What comes to your mind when you think about God?

How do you think God feels when He looks at you?

“The whole outlook of mankind might be changed if we could all believe that we dwell under a friendly sky and that the God of heaven, though exalted in power and majesty is eager to be friends with us.”

- A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy

THE GOD WHO PURSUES

• God MAKES the first MOVE.

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

Genesis 3:8-9

“The Bible is not the story of humanity in search of God, but of God in search of humanity.”

- John Stott, Theologian

The Parable of the Lost Sheep:

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Then Jesus told them this parable: “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 tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Luke 15:1-7

• God Himself will REVERSE what we RUINED.

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Genesis 3:15

Protoevangelium: The First Gospel. God's promise of redemption and the coming of a Savior who will defeat evil, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ. 

For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 

1 Corinthians 15:21-22

“Grace is God loving, God stooping, God coming to rescue, God giving Himself generously in and through Jesus Christ.”

- John Stott, Theologian

• God CLOTHES what we try to COVER UP.

The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

Genesis 3:21

The Prodigal Son’s Return:

So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

Luke 15:20-24