The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer

Possibly the best $10 I’ve ever spent on a book, A.W. Tozer’s The Pursuit of God often kept me awake into the early morning hours, as I simply could not put this book down. Although the book is filled with truths I’ve heard before, perhaps it is the way that they are written. It’s compelling; it’s captivating. You know you’ve found an incredible read when the introduction floors you, and by floored, I mean ready to hit the floor, on my knees in awe of an awesome God! Let me just share with you a piece of this man’s work, a favorite and highlighted part in my copy of this book:

“This book is a modest attempt to aid God’s hungry children so to find Him…Others before me have gone much farther into these holy mysteries than I have done, but if my fire is not large it is yet real, and there may be those who can light their candle at its flame.”

What a life lived for Jesus Christ, humbly realizing his position and yet desiring nothing more than to spark a flame of faith in others. And so he has. I pray that my faith, like his, will be used to aid others in finding faith. Oh, to leave such a legacy of faith! His legacy lives on in the church today. Here is a short bio of A.W. Tozer:

“A 20th-century prophet” they called him even in his lifetime. For 31 years he was pastor of Southside Alliance Church in Chicago, where his reputation as a man of God was citywide. Concurrently he became editor of Alliance Life, a responsibility he fulfilled until his death in 1963. His greatest legacy to the Christian world has been his 30 books. Because A.W. Tozer lived in the presence of God he saw clearly and he spoke as a prophet to the church. He sought for God’s honor with the zeal of Elijah and mourned with Jeremiah at the apostasy of God’s people. But he was not a prophet of despair. His writings are messages of concern. They expose the weaknesses of the church and denounce compromise. They warn and exhort. But they are messages of hope as well, for God is always there, ever faithful to restore and to fulfill His Word to those who hear and obey.

I couldn’t encourage you more to read this book. It’s filled with profound insights and theology, biblical truth, and inspiration. My faith was ignited and a desire that cannot seem to be quenched to pursue God was fanned to flame. I loved every page of this book, but seeing as I can’t rewrite it here for you, allow me to share some highlights. As you read these, my prayer is that you will be spurred on to pursue the Lord passionately and without hesitation. He is so worth every moment of our pursuit of Him.

1. “…full knowledge of one personality by another cannot be achieved in one encounter.” It is foolish for us to think that true intimacy with God happens overnight. Relationships take time and effort to grow. We meet Jesus at the cross, but we weren’t intended to remain there. We starve ourselves spiritually when we fail to daily pursue knowing God more. My conviction now is that each day I will move one step closer to my Jesus, no matter how small that step might be.
2. “The man who has God for His treasure has all things in One.” All the things of this world are temporary, fleeting, and will one day pass away. My tightest, most firm grip must be on Jesus alone, for I will never lose Him. He will never fade. To truly treasure the Lord is to prioritize Him above all else in my life. I’ll be forever working on this one.
3. “God wills that we should push on into His presence and live our whole life there…It is more than a doctrine to be held, it is a life to be enjoyed every moment of every day.” Christ’s sacrifice on the cross removed the veil that once separated us from God. From that moment forward, we have direct access to God through His Son, Jesus. We are invited to approach the throne of grace with confidence. Live in His presence as you were meant to.
4. “When the eyes of the soul looking out meet the eyes of God looking in, heaven has begun right here on this earth.” Our gaze is intended to be fixed on our Creator. That is why God’s Word tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2) When our vision is focused in on Him, we are freed to radically pursue Him.
5. “The heart of the world is breaking under this load of pride and pretense. There is no release from this burden apart from the meekness of Christ.” Meekness is not weakness, rather it is power under control. Jesus Himself calls the meek “blessed”. My soul can find rest in God alone, and my bent towards pride and self-sufficiency prevent me from finding that rest. I must come to the Lord in humility, stripped of my pride, and then receive His blessing of rest.