24 God, who made the world and everything in it, is Lord of heaven and earth. He doesn’t live in temples made with human hands. 25 Nor is God served by human hands, as though he needed something, since he is the one who gives life, breath, and everything else. 26 From one person God created every human nation to live on the whole earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God made the nations so they would seek him, perhaps even reach out to him and find him. In fact, God isn’t far away from any of us.
Reflection
For the greater part of human history, we have been seekers. We have explored this planet and space seeking answers. As humans, we seek to know ourselves through relationships and by adopting philosophies, psychologies and other methods. People also seek to ‘find themselves’ by searching for meaning and purpose – sometimes where they are, or by journeying to other countries. Seeking God is not something people spend enough time doing. Yet “we were created to seek God, reach out to God and find God.” And the the wonderful news is that “God isn’t far away from any of us.” (Acts 17:27)
Paul was in Athens and as a Jew and disciple of Jesus, he was deeply distressed by all the temples and idols to their gods. Then he saw an altar to “the unknown god.” At the time, Athens was the center of philosophical debate, a culture hungry for new ideas. Taken to the council, Paul witnessed to the Athenians by relating ideas from their own culture. Paul recognized that the Greeks were seeking for the one true God, not a false God “made by human hands.” Paul then shared the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ.
How do we seek and find God? “Seek and you will find,” Jesus said in Matthew 7:7. Paul said “we were created to seek God,” which means that by God’s grace, we desire to come into God’s presence, confess our sins, ask forgiveness, and accept that Jesus died for us. Next, Paul says “we reach out to God,” meaning we learn to trust and have faith in the promises of God. Finally, “we find God,” which means we develop a loving relationship with God through prayer and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
All of this is possible because God loves us and has saved us through Jesus’ sacrifice. Loving God and loving others, we will go and share the good news to make disciples for the transformation of the world.
By Jeneene Reduker
For Pondering & Prayer
We were created to seek God. Are you seeking God? How will you make time today to seek God? Reach out with joy and you will find God, because God isn’t far away from any of us.
Prayer: Gracious God, life right now is difficult, but we know you are never far away from us. Help us to always seek you, reach out to you with joy, and find you because of your great love for us. Amen.
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