Flee and Pursue are directional, volitional, action-based opposites. They have to be paired together and work together to shape behavior. This is the verse that gives Believers in Christ the exhortation to be doing both of these things, at the same time!
But you – man or woman of God – FLEE from all this – And PURSUE righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. I Timothy 6:11
My friends, let me break this down into some simple descriptions given me by the Holy Spirit as I looked upon this verse the other day:
FLEE –
Run quickly away from – “as if your life depended on it.”
ALL THIS –
Going after riches and focusing on money in actions and affections.
See the preceding verses of I Timothy 6:9-10,
“Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
PURSUE
– go after zealously – with powers of focus and thought
RIGHTEOUSNESS
– keeping my way RIGHT WITH GOD
GODLINESS
– Keeping my actions and thoughts PURE and GODLY
FAITH
–BELIEVING what God says! Believing HIS WORD!
Trusting enough to base your life’s decisions upon what He has spoken!
LOVE
– Holding no ill will toward another
– caring, helping, and blessing them.
“As I have loved you – so love ye one another”
Jesus’ love is our standard!
ENDURANCE
– being steadfast in hope UNTIL BREAKTHROUGH
GENTLENESS
– not having to prove or justify, to control a situation, to be in the limelight, to have the upper hand, or to have to be right.
What are YOU Fleeing?
And What are YOU Pursuing?
May you heed this single verse that is full of so much rich instruction… And set yourself up for the blessings of the Lord to be released unto you!
Here is some ‘homework’ to take this wisdom into reality within your own life:
Think of and write down some ways you can FLEE going after money or riches in your actions and affections.
Think of and write down some ways to PURSUE these things in your life. Allow the Holy Spirit to help you…
righteousness:
godliness:
faith:
love:
Now I want to refine things a little bit more for you, as you obey this mandate from the Lord. I want to speak of Your Vision.
In the fleeing the things of this world and pursuing the things you just focused on and wrote down, Your Vision will become clearer.
I wrote a spiritual song, called “Your Vision”.
The song itself IS an Exhortation from the Holy Spirit.
Your Vision is your purpose… God’s plan for you…
God is so gracious… He leads you step by step, and it is indeed “a process”, for Your Vision must grow inside of you, for it is as a seed planted.
Your Vision will be fulfilled as you are led by the Spirit of God.
Your Vision has been there, within you, all the time.
There are certain things you can do, to accelerate what He desires to do in and through you. You can facilitate conditions making it easier for you to respond to what He desires to do. This song gives you insight into those things. As you listen, you’ll understand my meaning.
Remember, The Lord has plans for each one of us! First step is to receive our salvation. Then, we become His Workmanship! When we see His purpose, we begin to have Vision! We then see ourselves, who we are and who we can be, in “light” of how we are to fit into His Plans.
Ephesians 2:10 declares:
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
I’m sharing the Song within this short chapter, for it fits well with this topic! You’ll get two lessons in one!
May the Spirit of God speak to your heart as you listen!
Here is the Link:
Your Vision – Elizabeth Ann Smith – Receive From Me
For those of you who can’t listen to this song right now, due to no sound or being in a public place, I still want you to see the lyrics, so you can benefit from the words of this song of discipleship:
Lyrics
Your Vision
Isn’t AHEAD for you
Your Vision
Is locked “INSIDE” of you
It is a seed
It is a dream
It needs TO GROW
But first the seed must die
Then it “opens” to GOD’s WAY of growing it
Only then, can the vision grow inside of you
Open up to sunshine
Open to the rain
Open to the way the LORD will grow it
Open up to grow
Open up to bud
Open up to blossom
And then GROW, GROW, GROW
Reaching maturity
Your Vision
Isn’t AHEAD for you
Your Vision
Is locked “INSIDE” of you
It is a seed
It is a dream
It needs TO GROW
And for the vision to grow
Put yourself into the RIGHT environment
You’ll need some quiet to hear the Lord inside of you
Do you need believers to encourage you?
Are you avoiding multiplied distractions?
Meditating on the Word of God each day?
Memorizing truths in Christ?
Then, making sure,
The Vision will live, not die?
Your Vision
Isn’t AHEAD for you
Your Vision
Is locked “INSIDE” of you
It is a seed
It is a dream
It needs TO GROW
And as you’re pursuing dreams
Examine the MOTIVES for your vision
Please be sure you’re not pursuing worldly things
It’s not about the wealth, the mortgage, or career
BUT about Christ
And focus on HIS kingdom
Following His Vision
Leaving all behind
Labor for His Glory
And then die, die, die
To pursuing mine.
Your Vision
Isn’t AHEAD for you
Your Vision
Is locked “INSIDE” of you
It is a seed
It is a dream
It needs TO GROW
When I SEE His purpose
I HAVE VISION
When I see His PURPOSE
I have VISION
When I see His PURPOSE
I have VISION
And HE is the one who WILL FULFILL IT
Yes, He will be the one
To fulfill it
Give the lyrics some pondering. What has God already been putting within you. Don’t attempt to be like anyone else. You are unique. You have a purpose He has put within you. When you see focus on what He wants to do, then maybe you can see what He has put within you to accomplish his purpose.
It’s good to ask not Is my agenda God’s, but to ask Is God’s agenda mine?
Just the change of paradigm, can make a huge difference in how you live your life. Fleeing certain things and Pursuing other things. It’s an exciting way to live! (smile)