Of all the goals in life we could pursue, all the courses we could follow, all the dreams we could chase, none of them comes close to the unimaginable value and privilege of our daily, intimate walk with God.
Amazingly, and in spite of this truth, it is our daily struggle to live as if this is true. We are constantly tempted to pursue lesser things that promise to make us happy, satisfy our longings, make us complete. The source of these temptations is the ruler of this world, who is committed to destroying us by deceiving us, just as he deceived Eve in the garden.
So it is crucial that we come to believe, deeply and fervently, that there is nothing more worthy of our time and treasure than the constant and purposeful pursuit of relationship with our loving God.
One of my favorite illustrations of this truth occurs as the nation of Israel receives God’s gift of the Promised Land. After the battles had been fought and enemies defeated, the land was divided among the various tribes. Each tribe received an allotment, a share determined by God.
When it came time for the tribe of Levi to receive their portion, we read:
The Lord said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites.” (Numbers 18:20)
The tribe of Levi received something of far greater value than a share of the land of Canaan. They received a special relationship, a dedicated place of service to God. They were chosen to be the tribe of priests, connecting the nation of Israel with the God who had delivered them from Egypt and brought them to this place of freedom in the Promised Land.
In his book The Pursuit of God, A.W. Tozer writes,
When the Lord divided Canaan among the tribes of Israel Levi received no share of the land. God said to him simply, “I am thy part and thine inheritance,” and by those words made him richer than all his brethren, richer than all the kings and rajas who have ever lived in the world. And there is a spiritual principle here, a principle still valid for every priest of the Most High God.
That principle is this: there is nothing we can possess, there is nothing we can desire and pursue, that is more valuable than a deep, abiding relationship with the God of the universe.
This principle is still true for us today. We as the church, the body of Christ, have been chosen as priests and kings, designated to minister to the world around us. 1 Peter 2:9 says,
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Look carefully at that verse. Look at the language Peter uses to describe who you are in Christ:
- Chosen
- Royal
- Holy
- Special
Most people pursue earthly things. Money. Fame. Pleasure. The things that moths corrupt and thieves steal. The things that don’t last and don’t satisfy.
God created you for something infinitely better. He chose you, made you royalty in His kingdom, made you holy in His service, made you His special possession.
I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. (Jeremiah 31:3)
Above all of your dreams, desires and ambitions, pursue God. Allow Him to be your share, your portion, and your inheritance.
Be blessed!