Seeking The Unhidden One

REFERENCE: Acts 17:27-28   “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him"though he is not far from any one of us. 28 For in him we live and move and exist.

Observation: Here is the paradox of God. It is our job to seek Him, to "feel" our way towards Him, to find Him and, yet, He is not far from any of us. It is important that we hold on to the truth on both sides of this formulation. We can not expect to find God, to come near to Him, unless we are willing to seek Him. On the other hand, we should never think that He is far away and hiding from us. He is always near and inviting our search.

It seems that God wants to be wanted. He will not force Himself on us, or force us to accept His love. It doesn't mean that this love is any less real. But He is a lover that waits patiently, even painfully, for His beloved to respond to His call.

The Bible tells us that He is jealous of the affection that we give to other things or people that ought to be His. What an amazing thought; God so loves us that He is waiting patiently for us, like a jilted lover, as we let our hearts run astray. He waits, wanting to be wanted. Fully capable of compelling this love but unwilling to do so. He desires that our devotion would be fully voluntary. He waits nearby for us, in fact, to be finally willing to come after Him, to seak with all our hearts. And then He will let us find Him.

Application/Confession: Oh heart of mine!! I want it to be fully His and yet I realize how often it attaches itself to other things/people. I choose to search for Him with all that I am. I know that I will find Him if I do.

PRAYER:  Capture my wayward heart for You, Lord. You love me so much! Even though I am capable of such meager love compared to Yours, help me love You in return.