February 21, 2024 -- Proverbs 21:21 -- You're exhausting yourself chasing something. What is it? Is it worthwhile?

Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness
    will find life, righteousness, and honor.
Proverbs 21:21 ESV

A short proverb like this is packed with Truth. It is easy to pass it by, in favor of funny proverbs, like “It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman” (Proverbs 21:19). While both proverbs are true, and worthy of consideration, today’s proverb leads one to ask the deep, important question of yourself: “what am I pursuing”?

In Jesus’ lengthy “Sermon on the Mount” one can hear the echoes of this proverb. Jesus commanded His hearers not to be anxious about food, clothes, money, or the length of one’s life. Instead “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

The main thing, the main purpose of your life is life is to chase after, invest in, and run towards righteousness. Yes, actively look for God with all you have and all you own. He is your life’s priceless treasure. Look until you find His kindness. Other translations have in place of "kindness" the word “mercy”. Some translations have the word “love”. The word in Hebrew is hesed; which can be translated in more than 100 ways into English. The hesed, steadfast love, of the LORD is shown most perfectly in Jesus Christ. He is the great evidence of God’s never-failing love. While we were still sinners, unaware of our need for Jesus, standing in the stench of our sins unaware how full our diapers were, the opportunity to be made clean in Christ was given at the cross

Those who seek Jesus find not only the Savior of their souls, but find in Him and in Him only a life that is worth living. Life that has the purpose of knowing Jesus is so grand, so powerful, that one cannot help but delight in it, fight for it, and at all costs avoid the sins and lusts which would war against the knowledge of God.

Have you found such purpose? If not, find a Christian friend whose walk with God you admire and ask him or her why their love for God dominates their life.

Blessed are those people, O Father in heaven, of whom it is said: “Sing aloud, O daughter of God’s covenant people; rejoice and exult with all your heart. The LORD has taken away the judgment against you; He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing”. Surely Your righteousness and Your covenant love are enough to fill our thoughts for this life and all eternity and we will never reach the edges of Your powerful, mighty goodness revealed in Jesus Christ. Amen.

The quotation within the prayer is from Zephaniah 3:14,17)

https://youtu.be/L5-DrwN0-EM?si=oxiIZcLkqQfQ784u “Sitting at the Feet of Jesus”

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