PURSUED: “The Search Begins”
RECAP:
Genesis 1: God Creates
Genesis 2: God Blesses. God Provides.
Genesis 3: The Devil makes us question: God’s Creation, God’s Blessings, and God’s Provision
Genesis 3:6-9, “The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
SIN MAKES US HIDE
How has sin resulted in you hiding in your life? Reflect on a time in your past where sin caused you to hide and how God pursued you and drew you out of hiding and into His presence. How did that sin cause you to change how you saw yourself? Can you look back and see how God was there all along, seeking relationship with you, loving you in spite of your sin, longing for you to come to Him and allow Him to free you from any guilt and shame you carried?
In your season of hiding, what are some ways that you avoided approaching God? Can you see how that was part of the devil’s plan to separate you from God? What can you do differently in the future?
GOD COMES LOOKING
God will pursue us, His children, in different ways. Sometimes He pursues through other people, through Scripture, through music, through circumstances…What are some ways that God pursues you? Are you quick at recognizing that He is pursuing you, or does it take some time for you to realize the evidence of His pursuit?
God is all about relationship. We exist because He wants to be in relationship with us. He does not need us, He wants us. Take the “Where are you?” question and flip it around and ask yourself where you are in your relationship with God. Where do you need to take steps to move toward God in your life? How can you work on that this week?
GOD COVERS WHAT WE CANNOT
Because God loves us so much He does not want there to be anything that comes between Himself and us. This is why He sent Jesus to die for us so that His blood could cover our sin and allow us access to God. Galatians 3:27 reminds us of how God sent Jesus to cover us “And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.” We are incapable of covering ourselves. Have you experienced God’s covering, being brought out of the darkness of your sin to step into the new clothes of righteousness that He has for you? Isn’t it amazing to be freed from the shame associated with sin and step into righteousness with our Savior?
What are some ways we try to cover ourselves? Have you experienced the futility of an attempt to cover yourself? Think of some differences between trying to cover sin in your own power and God’s covering. Discuss with your small group or a trusted Christian friend.
THE SEARCH WILL END AT HOME
Revelation 21:3-4, “I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
Our home is with God, coming full circle from a place of free will that created a chasm between God and His people and our consistent running from His pursuit, until we finally use our free will to choose Him and we end living in a restored Garden free from sin that tried to keep us separated, and walking in intimacy with God through eternity… as He had planned for us since the beginning of time.
Are you ready for the search to end at home? Have you chosen to use your free will to choose relationship with God? If not, what are you waiting for? Stop running. God is still pursuing you, never forget that you are pursued. What one step can you take this week to remind yourself that He is still pursuing you and respond to that pursuit? If you haven’t, take some time to read over the Scripture we covered this week and select one verse or passage that resonates with your spirit to memorize and serve as a reminder of how you are pursued. Take some time to get quiet with God and ask Him to help you grow in awareness of His relentless pursuit of you.
Scripture References for this week:
Genesis 1
Genesis 2
Genesis 3
Psalm 8
Romans 5:12-21
Luke 19:1-10
Isaiah 61:10
Galatians 3:27
Revelation 7:14
Revelation 21:3-4
Revelation 22:1-3
