One of my favorite pastors told me once that “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life” from Psalm 23 has some translation issues. “Follow” implies something rather passive, in many cases. It’s easy to think of this line, particularly given the tone of the psalm, as goodness and mercy tranquilly staying behind us. However, the word for follow here can also mean something more like pursue.* This word implies more energy, a refusal to give up.
Perhaps this is all just word smithing, but this interpretation has encouraged me to think more about the ways that God pursues us. Crystal had a very thoughtful post about leaving the church and the ways God keeps bringing her back. I know my own faith journey has not always been the most linear path and that there were periods where I wasn’t really interested in being Christian because it was hard. Yet through it all, God refused to give up on me and led me back.
How often in each of our lives have we been ready to flee God, or perhaps more passively just ignore Him? How often has He still been there, relentlessly pursuing us and embracing us in love? How often are we pursuing Him with the same energy and commitment?
This week, I’d challenge you to think on your faith story and how God has pursued you, as well as ways that you can actively pursue Him in all that you do.
*If you’ d like more information on this translation, an interlinear Bible marked to the right spot is here.
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