The chase

"You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you. Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you." Leviticus 26:7,8

"Never steal from a long distance track runner… You will be caught”, said a spokesperson for the Minneapolis Police Department after the September 24 arrest of 48-year-old Darren Clinton. It all started when Clinton was spotted by Collins Kibet, a member of the University of Arizona's Cross-Country team, darting out of the team's hotel room carrying one of the runners' backpacks. Upon seeing a burglary in progress, Kibet reacted by doing what he does best, he ran. And as the rest of the team, having breakfast across the street (with a view of the hotel) saw the commotion, they too joined in the chase not stopping until they had the robber cornered and the police arrived where Darren was quickly arrested and the team recovered all of their belongings. 

Quite a story isn't it? Leviticus 26:7,8 also talks about an exciting chase when it says, "Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you." You see, after God commanded the Israelites to obey his commands and to follow his decrees, he told them that there would be rewards for their obedience... one of which was deliverance from their enemies.

Do you realize that God is still calling us to heed his commands today with the promise of a recompense? And while we might not need to be delivered from sword-wielding enemies anymore, the prize for obedience is just as amazing.  It is being set free from the sin that kills us, released from the bondage that holds us and freed from the consequences it leaves us. Oh yes, obedience certainly has its rewards. And isn't that worth chasing?

Heavenly Father, thank you for the promise that chasing after you will be the best pursuit that we ever enter into. May we view a relationship with you as the greatest thing we can ever possess and allow no person or thing to ever steal it from us. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

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Chasing after you - Vashawn Mitchell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_hcGqWOo-I