“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 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 17:24-27 NIV
God is YEARNING!
Yearning is defined as: a tender or urgent longing.
Longing is defined as: a strong desire especially for something unattainable.
Thinking of God… how many people consider Him this way… yearning to be with us… individually and personally on a daily basis? In our own personal ups and downs, in and outs, and for some of us the occasional sideways and backwards?
Do we feel He has time to be concerned with our “small, insignificant” problems when there are others out there who are suffering far more than we are?
Read the passage again this time from The Message, and ask God to reveal to you how much He yearns for you … how urgently He seeks you… how much He longs for you… how much He desires you…
“The God who made the world and everything in it, this Master of sky and land, doesn’t live in custom-made shrines or need the human race to run errands for him, as if he couldn’t take care of himself. He makes the creatures; the creatures don’t make him. Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn’t play hide-and-seek with us. He’s not remote; he’s near.”
The picture above is a portion of the portrait The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo.
Each and every time I come across this image… this “oh so common in my own life” image… my heart aches!
How backwards is this?
God reaching with all His might. Completely outstretched and YEARNING for just a touch…
And Adam’s response to this plea … halfheartedly reaching… as if it’s too much effort to simply raise a finger.
One finger and He would have touch the very hand of God… the God who created Him… the God who cares for Him… the God who loves Him… the God who yearns for an intimate and meaningful relationship with Him!
Are you seeking Him with your whole heart?
Lift your hand… raise your finger… He’s right here… with His body completely outstretched, YEARNING for just a touch… a chance to prove His love to you… and offering you a chance to know Him and experience His love!
Gracious Heavenly Father! So loving and compassionate… seeking me out of the sinful life I live in; just as You did with Adam and Eve. Willing and ready to right the wrong and restore our relationship with You. Offering forgiveness at the expense of Your Son’s life.
Father forgive me for halfheartedly pursuing You. Forgive me for thinking more highly of myself than I ought. Lord as I go through this day, remind me to constantly look for Your outstretched hand. To look for the ways that I might encounter a touch from the Master and Creator… the One whom my soul longs for! Let me experience the change You bring with just one touch, and Lord may I not be selfish. Let me share the good news with those You have set before me. For it’s in Jesus name I pray, amen.
Categories: ABC of who He is!
Tags: a chance to prove, a change, acts 17, adam and eve, backwards, brokenness, creation, desirable, failed attempts, halfheartedly, heartaches, ins and outs, insignificant, intimate, meaningful relationships, my soul longs for, offering forgiveness, outstretched, problems, restore, seeking Him, sistine chapel, small, the creation of adam, thinking of God, touch, ups and downs, willing and ready, yearning, yearning for more
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