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EN(dur)ANCE by Robin Gudal

I just read a quote that sent off fireworks in my mind:

“We are in a relationship with a pursuing God who has a relentless love.” — Lysa Terkeurst

I purchased a picture recently as a gift. The artist portrays Jesus running through the foggy, thick woods pursuing a lost lamb. The little lamb doesn’t realize it is lost. He is on a path forward through the woods, not looking back, yet covered in mud, muck and grime. The lamb is painted clearly on the forefront of the painting with a face of innocence, unaware of any immediate danger that lurks within the forest. Christ is running from afar. The caption says, “He left the 99 to rescue me.” The artist also has a three-panel portrait with, “He Ran. He rescued. He carried.”

I’ve been in a season of purposefulness, trying to be more authentic and more consistent with what and how I act and react. My faith is a relationship. Thus, I have a responsibility to it.

I work at my other relationships. I don’t become lazy. I want to do acts of service, have communication and pursue intentional interaction with those I love. Oh, how often I fall short of those with my Jesus.

“Jesus said unto him, ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.’” — Matthew 22:37-38, KJV

Relentless. In the thesaurus, words that mean the same are persistent, unyielding, unremitting, unrelenting and uncompromising. In the dictionary, there are many words of description. Here are a few of my favorites: constant, continuing, endless, purposeful, patient, lasting, non-stop, unbroken.

We will not find anyone that can come close to all those qualities!

Let us run into the arms of Jesus with such vigor.

“And I will run to you, to your words of truth, not by might, not by power, but by the Spirit of God. Yes, I will run the race, ‘till I see your face. Oh, let me live in the glory of your grace!” — “I will run to you,” Hillsong Worship

Robin (Beckman) Gudal is intentional in life, a wife, momma, nana, friend and a flawed and imperfect follower of Jesus.