7-7-2026 | Are You a Pursuer or a Participant?

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8) 

But the Lord said to her, "My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details!  There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41-42).  

A participant is present… around Jesus.. near the things of God.. involved in the activity… busy.  

A pursuer is hungry… reaching for Jesus Himself.. not just what happens around Him… Focused on Surrender.. Obedience and Discipleship.  

Participants can be sincere… They love church…. They serve…. They sing…. They show up. 

But pursuers don’t just show up… they press in. 

“You can be in the room with Jesus and still miss the moment with Jesus.” 

Martha and Mary… Same House, Different Hearts… 

Martha was a participant in the moment…. Mary was a pursuer of the Person.

Jesus didn’t rebuke Martha for serving… He corrected her for being distracted. 

Not sinful…. Not rebellious…. Just pulled away. 

That’s the danger… distractions don’t have to be bad to be deadly…. They just have to keep you from the “One”.. Jesus.  

Participants can leave a worship service impressed…. Pursuers leave transformed. 

The Invitation Isn’t to Perform… It’s to Pursue. 

Paul says something wild in Philippians 3… “Not that I have already obtained all this… but I press on to take hold…” 

Paul had revelation.. gifts.. miracles.. influence… yet his confession was… “I’m still chasing Him.” 

If Paul had not “arrived,” then we definitely haven’t…. Christianity isn’t a finish line… it’s a holy pursuit. 

No condemnation… just clarity. Because God is not looking for more busy hands… He’s looking for more surrendered hearts.