From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. Acts 17:26-27 NIV
I wonder how many love songs have expressed the thought from one lover to another, “I want you to want me.” The words express the desire we all have – whether they are our parents, our children, our friends, or our spouse – we want them to want us. We don’t want the relationship because they have to, they feel obligated, they have no option. We want them to pursue us, delight to be with us.
This is another area where our likeness to God is so strong. He made us in His image. That’s exactly the way He feels about us. He set up the world the way He did so that humans would seek Him. He is so personal. He loves each one of us individually so much and wants to have a deep love relationship with us. But His love is completely honest and non-manipulative. There is nothing pushy or demanding about Him, even though He loves us and wants us so very much. He said He set up circumstances so that we would seek Him and “perhaps reach out for Him and find Him.” He wants us, but the choice is ours. Anyone who tells you that God only has certain ones pre-chosen to belong to Him is confused. God has pre-chosen to love everyone of us. Over and over again the word of God tells us that, and that Jesus came for the whole world. God has chosen life and relationship for ALL of us, but He leaves the choice in our hands.
Paul points out even more how far God goes. He wants us to reach out and find Him, “though He is not far from any one of us.” Jesus told the rich young ruler who said he had obeyed every single law from the time he was a child that he was “not far from the Kingdom of God.” He was so close, but didn’t realize knowing God came from reaching out in faith, not from rigid adherence to the law. Saul was on the Damascus Road, persecuting and killing followers of Jesus. You would think that God would be far from him, yet “suddenly” God appeared to him. As wrong as Saul was, God was not far. The criminals on the crosses beside Jesus were both there because of heinous crimes against humanity and God. Yet Jesus was right there, offering life and relationship to them, based on their own choice.
God loves us so much. He very personally wants you. But He will never force you. He wants you to want Him. Easter has provided the most significant opportunity to reach out and find that He is right here.
- Show this God who loves and wants you that you want Him today. Pray for someone you know who has not yet made that choice.