Desired to Pursue.

So I went to ONE at Covenant Life Church on Friday (which I will be posting about soon) and it was just so great to be there and worship the Lord and here a really great message about our sin and God's standard. But I was encouraged by what a dude got up to say. In between some of the songs, he came up to do a prophecy (now, if you don't know what this means, it is simply an exhortation or encouragement or testimony. Something they believe the Holy Spirit placed on their heart to say to encourage someone. Sometimes, I believe I have this gift) But he read from Revelation 21 and the last thing he said really spoke to me and encouraged me. He said that my King desired to pursue me. Wow. Really, me? He DESIRED/WANTED to pursue me. I don't know why, but I am ever so grateful he chose to love me! I didn't catch what verse exactly it was that he said so I asked my friend Hayley and she said he was reading from Revelation 21. So I decided to read over that on the plane today. I took great comfort from the following verses and I'll show you which ones I was convicted in and then took hope in after that. (not really sure if that sentence made sense)

Revelation 21:2-5

And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 

prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

"Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man,

He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, 

and God himself will be with them as their God.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,

and death shall be no more,

neither shall their be mourning, nor crying, nor pain

any more, for the former things have passed away.

... "Behold, I am making all things new."

My convicting verses:

Revelation 21:8 

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers,

the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters,

and all liars, their portion will be in the lake

that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.

Gosh, I was really convicted when I read that verse. I said, "Hey, wait...well, I lie. I'm an idolator, I'm often faithless, I'm a coward...I deserve this death." I felt this wait of sin on my shoulders and knew I needed to repent. Praise God that he has already covered all my sins past, present, and future. 

Then I took great hope in this verse: 

Revelation 21:27

But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.

I am declared righteous before a Holy God! Woo Hoo!! I'm clean and my name is written in the Lamb's book of life! This is me taking joy in my salvation and the fact the the King desired to pursue me. 

♥