1 Tim 6:11 Pursue righteousness

1 Timothy 6:11 (NIV) But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

I looked up the word pursue on the website www.dictionary.com. The synonyms listed there are "1. trail, hunt. 2. dog". The definition is "to follow in pursuit" and "to continue". With that definition we are to chase, trail, hunt, follow and continue on to righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. These are very different pursuits. Pursuing faith does not make us gentle, or to have endurance. Being able to endure does not make us godly or righteous.

Picture the above definition and synonyms. Trailing requires that a dog's nose be close to the ground, with eyes and ears trained on seeing and hearing the target of the pursuit. When someone hunts he or she is quiet, and patiently awaits their prey. When we use the term to dog someone or something we generally mean to stay very close, to stick with it until satisfied even with urgency.

So this passage of scripture instructs me to actively trail, hunt, and doggedly chase after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness until I attain these characteristics. I am to focus completely as a hunter or the hunter's dog would. I am to pursue these characteristics. What a tall order. The only way I can do that is with God's help. Maybe that is the whole point. I am unable to do this myself so I must pursue God so that He can instill in me these traits, or the ability to pursue them.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit,

Please help me to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. You know how unrelated these characteristics are in me. You know how much work must be done within me to attain these characteristics. I want to be exactly what you want me to be. Work on me in whatever manner appropriate so I conform, surrender and reflect You in everything I do, say and feel. In Jesus' powerful and precious name, Amen.

Comments

AnonymousJanuary 30, 2010 at 8:56 PM
Pursue could also mean in simple terms, "just do it". Stop thinking, analayzing, worrying, fretting, guessing, whatever it is that prevents us from moving forward and just do it. God meets you where you are and changes you from that point forward. But he waits for us to start moving. As we move in pursuit of God we find righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. When we miss the mark God pursues us to perfect these things in us. It is all part of the journey. DE
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AnonymousJanuary 31, 2010 at 9:02 AM
AMEN
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