How does Acts 17:27 connect with Jeremiah 29:13 about seeking God? Verse Snapshot • Acts 17:27 – “God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.” • Jeremiah 29:13 – “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” Shared Themes: Seek and Find • Both verses pair the verbs “seek” and “find.” • The promise is identical: genuine seeking leads unfailingly to finding. • The order never reverses—God is discovered by pursuit, not by accident. God’s Initiative • Acts stresses that God “intended” humanity to seek Him. • Jeremiah records God speaking first, inviting His people. • Other confirmations: John 6:44; 1 John 4:19—God always moves first, making seeking possible. Wholehearted Pursuit • Jeremiah adds the qualifier “with all your heart,” guarding against half-hearted religion. • Acts uses “reach out for Him,” picturing deliberate effort. • Compare Deuteronomy 4:29—“You will seek the LORD your God and you will find Him if you search after Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” The standard has never changed. Nearness of God • Acts assures, “He is not far from each one of us.” • This nearness eliminates excuses; seeking is realistic and expected. • Psalm 145:18 echoes: “The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” Response of Faith • Hebrews 11:6 links seeking to faith: “Whoever comes to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” • Isaiah 55:6 urges urgency: “Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.” Practical Takeaways • Recognize God already positioned you—time, place, circumstances—to spur your search (Acts 17:26-27). • Engage Scripture, prayer, and fellowship with undivided heart. • Expect a personal encounter; God guarantees discovery, not mere information. • Keep seeking continually; finding God becomes deeper relationship, not a one-time event (Colossians 2:6-7). |
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