Your Goodness Is Running After Me
From time to time, I encounter a term that is widely used in Christian communities but sounds completely foreign to me. More often than not, my confusion stems from my own limited vocabulary 🙂. The first time I came across the term “Means of Grace” and had to take a short detour to understand it better.
My summary of “Means of Grace” is that it refers to the avenues through which God reveals Himself to the world. “Reveals” may not be the perfect word, but essentially, it describes how God captures people’s attention. Nature, for example, can be seen as a means of grace.
Romans 1:20
“For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”
Perhaps the greatest way God reveals Himself to the world is through His followers. There are numerous verses instructing Christ’s followers on how to act. In these passages, the authors typically point back to Christ’s example in how He interacted with us.
For example, Ephesians 4:25-32 speaks about how the body of Christ should prioritize the well-being of the group rather than focusing solely on individual benefit. Paul then concludes with Ephesians 5:1-2:
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
With that in mind… What do your interactions with others reveal about God’s interactions with you?
This Sunday, we’re going to sing a song called Goodness of God. Here are some lines from the song that reflect how God has interacted with us:
- “Your mercy never fails me.”
- “All my life You have been faithful.”
- “You are close like no other.”
Do any of these statements reflect your interactions with the people around you? Is your commitment to others unwavering? Are you faithful in all situations? Do you remain close to people when times get tough?
We have a God who does this for us. When we demonstrate the same faithfulness and goodness to others, we help them see God’s faithfulness and love.
Another spiritual truth in this song is that God actively pursues all people:
“Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me.”
Luke 15:8-10
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
We have the honor and privilege of being part of that pursuit. That is why it is so important for us to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called” (Ephesians 4:1).
Over the next few days, take some time to reflect on the ways God has displayed His goodness in your life and how you can reflect that same goodness to those around you.
Adam