“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.” Philippians 3:12
The Hebrew word radap means to aggressively pursue. It is used of God pursuing us, of an army pursuing another army, and of us pursuing God. This kind of pursuit is a quest with the intent to chase down and capture the one we want to overtake. God wants to be pursued by us.
God encourages us to pursue Him and what He has for us.
In Psalm 38:20, we are to pursue what is good.
In Psalm 34: 14, we are to pursue peace.
In Proverbs 15:9, 21:21, we are to chase righteousness.
In Deuteronomy 16:20, we are to go after what is just.
God looks for faith. Faith is our dependency on God, rather than being dependent on our self. Faith is being God-sufficient, not self-sufficient. Faith will then act on that dependency in obedience. Faith will not give up. Faith will press in, and then press in some more, and then press in until the breakthrough comes. Faith keeps seeking, keeps asking, and keeps knocking, because faith is certain that God is worth the pursuit.
Faith is certain that God will keep His promise. Faith doesn’t want to live any other way than God’s way, so faith will pursue God, chase God, and attempt to overtake God.
I love the story of Jacob in the Bible. He encounters the angel of the Lord, and he refused to let go of the being until the messenger blesses him. Jacob wrestles with the messenger, and the angel puts his hip out of socket. Jacob would walk with a limp because of that encounter, but he also got his blessing. The limp was a reminder he wrestled and pursued what God had for him.
Are we willing to pursue God’s Presence? Are we willing to pursue God’s promises? Are will willing to pursue God’s power? Or after praying once, twice, several times, and not seeing results, do we give up? Do we just settle for less than God’s best? Or will we relentless pursue God and wrestle angels in order to receive all that God has for us? Let’s be known for pressing in and going after God and His promises!
Application: When we press in, we pray, but we also obey and do our part. We press in by making some declarations. We call in what God has promised to us. We take authority over Satan in the name of Jesus. We get together with others and press in. Whatever it takes, be relentless and press in to pursue God and all He has for you!