The Israelites had escaped their bondage in Egypt and were marching away. Exodus 14:5-9 “Now it was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people; and they said, ‘Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?’ So he made ready his chariot and took his people with him. Also, he took six hundred choice chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt with captains over every one of them. And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel; and the children of Israel went out with boldness. So the Egyptians pursued them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and overtook them camping by the sea beside Pi Hahiroth, before Baal Zephon.” We understand that Pharaoh and his army pursued the Israelites who were getting away. To pursue something is to follow after it in order to catch it. Did you know that just as Pharaoh and the army were pursuing the Israelites, there are things that we are taught to pursue today?
The apostle Paul taught Timothy that godliness with contentment is great gain, and that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Then he says in 1 Timothy 6:11-12 “But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” Timothy was taught to flee the love of money but to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness and fight the good fight of faith. Are you pursuing these attributes? Let us look at what it might mean to pursue them.
The first attribute we are to pursue is righteousness. Righteousness is the character or quality of being right or just. We can only be made right with God through the righteousness of Christ. Romans 5:8-9 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” By faith and obedience to the gospel we are made righteous before God; this is not something we earn. Timothy was a true Christian; he had been justified by the blood of Christ. But he was still told to pursue righteousness. I understand that each Christian is to pursue righteousness. We are to seek to find what God considers to be right and to pursue that righteousness. Jesus taught much about what was right and what was wrong. The letters of the apostles and the Old Testament scriptures also teach us what is right and wrong. To pursue righteousness is to seek to understand what God considers right in our lives and to put it into practice. Titus 2:11-12 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.” I encourage you to make it a goal to pursue righteousness in your life.
The second attribute we are to pursue is godliness. Godliness is to have a Godward attitude to do what is well pleasing to Him. Godliness is similar to righteousness but I understand that it includes the desire to do what pleases our Father in Heaven. 1 Timothy 6:3-4a “If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing.” To pursue godliness would be to pursue what pleases our God.
The next attribute we are to pursue is faith. Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Not only do we have faith in God, but by pursuing faith we seek to have great faith. 2 Corinthians 5:7 “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” We live our lives based upon our faith and our trust in Him and His promises. Let us seek to have more faith.
The next attribute we are to pursue is love. In 1 Corinthians 13, the apostle Paul taught us that if we have the gift of tongues, understand all mysteries and all knowledge, have faith so that we can remove mountains, give all our goods to feed the poor and give our bodies to be burned, but we do not have love, it profits us nothing. It then follows that we must pursue love for God and for one another.
The next attribute we are to pursue is patience. James taught in James 5:10-11 “My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” In spite of the trials that we all face, we won’t complain or get discouraged. Pursuing patience allows us to endure, persevere, and succeed.
The next attribute we are to pursue is gentleness or meekness. That is to have a kind and humble disposition. As we pursue all of the other attributes, we also pursue the right attitude – the attitude of gentleness. Ephesians 4:1-3 “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Pursue gentleness.
As we pursue these attributes in our lives, we also fight the good fight of faith and lay hold on eternal life. Eternal life is the goal that each of us has. Just as Pharaoh and his army pursued the Israelites, I encourage you to also make it your goal this year to actively pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness in your life.