Corona Devo 3205

We had some friends over to our house the other day.  It was a mixed group of people, and everyone did not know each other prior to the gathering.  And truth-be-told, I had cast a wide net, but I didn't really know who would be attending.  

All I "knew" was that it was my role to "ask", and that God would work out who "answered".

As we readied the rooms, and lit some candles, and plated some food, and tidied some corners...I prayed.  People were coming over, and I knew that their draw wasn't me, but they would be answering a knock on their heart from the Lord.  

The gathering, although nothing fancy or formal, was God's idea.  The sweet tea and banana-frosted cookies were my job, but the purpose and fulfillment...that was all Jesus, and He and I both knew that.

Why does anyone walk through the door to a home?  And what needs/desires/prayers are on their hearts that we can be aware (or involved) in?  Only God can answer that.  But we...need to ask.

I prayed.  


And as I brewed coffee and poured creamer into a pitcher, the words to two verses poured into my heart.

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. (27) 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   

 These are the Lord's Words to us today, Friends!

Friends of mine that would be stopping over to my house, and friends of mine that are reading this devotional that live across town or across the world (Hello to my friends in Singapore and Hong Kong!).

God sees you, and He speaks Acts 17:26-27 into our ears (and hearts) today!

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.  ~Acts 17:26  

Where are we today?  

The Lord reminds us (through the Bible) that we (His sons and daughters) are all over (inhabiting) the whole earth!  We are everywhere.  I am here and you are there, and that is God's plan for you and me.  

And not only are we where He ordained for us to be, but everything from our birth-date until our death-date, and every relationship/family-tie/and situation...(Yes, where-we-are, and all-that-we-are)...is meant to be (by God).  

Did we ever think that life or people or circumstances are all a coincidence?  

No way.

This is God's way for us.

Adam (and Eve), as created by God (So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.  ~Genesis 1:27), started everything, and from there...here we are...now inhabiting the whole earth.

From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth...  ~Acts 17:26  

And coincidence?   
Is that what we think our "good" luck has been, or our "bad" luck has come from?  

No--every high and every low has God walking beside us (or carrying us) through it.  There is no happenstance, or karma, or even luck.  

There is God, and he marked out our appointed times in history and the boundaries of our lands (Acts 17:26).

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.  ~Acts 17:26

For every one of us wondering today about the point, the purpose, the meaning of our lives...God isn't getting specific, but He is giving us our outline: He's in control, and He has a plan for us.  We are currently living the plan: His plan...whether we are enjoying it or not.  

Right where we are at today (the nation, the appointed time in history, and even our boundaries (how far we can go)...God did that.  God did all of that.

Someone needed to hear that today, and the Lord is telling us (through His Word in Acts 17:26) today that we are right where we are supposed to be today.

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.  ~Acts 17:26

But, as I shared with my friends that came over the other day, I am compelled to share with you as well: The Lord wants us to know something today: Him.  

And He wants us to know something about Himself: He is not far away from any of us.

Right there in these two verses are two concepts that are life-altering for us today:

  1. God wants us to seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him today.  (Another translation says that we "might grope for him".)  Are we "groping" for God today?  Good.  He is here.  He welcomes us, and He is waiting for us.  

God did this so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him...  ~Acts 17:27

2. God is NEAR to us today!  He wants us to know that, Friends!   

...though he is not far from any one of us.  ~Acts 17:27 

Our Lord and Heavenly Father made us (From one man he made all the nations).  Our Lord put us right in the city/state/country where we are...on purpose!  And for His purposes!  He wants His children here and there...and everywhere--sharing His Word and truth and love with the world (that they should inhabit the whole earth).

Our circumstances and connections and involvements, and even our friends/family/co-workers/neighbors: they are ordained by God!  He uses the word "appointed".  God has marked out where we are today, and He has big plans for us right where we are.  

If we can accept that Truth, and start living it out, then look out!

Right here and right now in our lives--is marked out and appointed by God.

...and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.  ~Acts 17:26

~~~

And if God could say one thing to us today...well, He IS saying one thing to us today:

God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him...  ~Acts 17:27

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, let's get real about our Lord.  
Seek Him today, Friends.  
Perhaps reach out for Him today.
Grope for Him today, if necessary.
And, God promises that when we do (seek and reach)...we will find Him.

Seek Him today, Friends.  
Perhaps reach out for Him today.

And I really feel (spiritually) that God's main point for us to become aware of today is that he is not far from any one of us (Acts 17:27).  

He is not distant or angry or pious or far.  
Our God: He is not far from any one of us (Acts 17:27).  


How does it change things for us to know that today?  That our Lord--he is not far from any one of us (Acts 17:27).  

For the one who feels far, and left-alone, and isolated, and empty: God gave us a verse in His Bible today:
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 17:27  
 
This Bible verse is not just for the few that stopped by our house the other day, it is for each of us in our own houses today.  
This truth is for all the nations.

God's Word entices and invites us today to seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him.
Because (outstanding news!!) he is not far from you or me or any one of us (Acts 17:27 ). 

Blessings,

sarah 

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com 

 

 

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