The God Who Waits for Us to Seek Him
In Acts 17:27, Paul delivers a powerful reminder to the people of Athens, a city full of idols, that God is near to all of us, waiting for us to reach out to Him. The verse says, “that they would seek God, if perhaps they might feel around for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.” This is a beautiful message: God is not a distant, unreachable force but is very close, always inviting us into a relationship with Him. It brings to mind the words of Jeremiah 29:13, “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” Here, God promises that anyone who truly seeks Him will find Him, emphasizing that He doesn’t hide but desires to be found.
This passage speaks to God’s continuous presence and availability, even to those who may not yet believe or know Him personally. It reflects the message of Psalm 145:18, which says, “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” God’s nearness is constant, not because of anything we do to earn it, but because He loves us and wants to be close to us. This love is not limited by our shortcomings or how far we may feel from Him. Jesus’s own words in Matthew 7:7-8 affirm this by saying, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” This invitation is open to everyone—no one is excluded from the possibility of knowing God personally.
God’s nearness means that even in our darkest or most uncertain times, He is there, ready to guide us. Psalm 139:7-10 beautifully reminds us of this by saying, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will lay hold of me.” We are never out of God’s sight, no matter where we are physically, spiritually, or emotionally.
God’s desire is for each of us to respond to this nearness, to turn to Him in our search for meaning and truth. Jesus, in Revelation 3:20, shares this powerful image of a loving God waiting for us, saying, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” God’s presence is not passive; He actively invites us to open our hearts to Him. His desire is that no one would go through life without the peace and direction that only He can provide.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
“What I write is not for everyone, but what I write is meant for someone.”
Feel free to reach out: hopeinchrist2024@yahoo.com
I am the author of two books: Embracing God's Wisdom: A Journey of Faith and Reflection and Embracing God’s Wisdom: Paul’s Commands for Victorious Living. Both are available on Amazon.