“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.”
In plain words: God made people to look for Him, and He is close to every one of us, so anyone who reaches out can find Him.
What Acts 17:27 means.
Paul told a crowd in Athens that God made people to seek Him, and that He isn’t far from any one of us.
Common questions about Acts 17:27
I've never been to church. How do I start looking for God?
You can start right where you are. Seeking God just means being honest and curious. Ask your questions. Read about Jesus, because He shows us what God is like. A good place to begin is the Gospel of John. Then talk to God in plain words. You don't need special phrases. Jesus said that people who seek will find, and that the door opens for those who knock. [[Matthew 7:7-8]] Being sincere is enough to begin.
Apply it today: Read the first chapter of the Gospel of John today and ask God to help you understand it.
Why does the verse say "perhaps"? Is God hard to find?
Paul was speaking to people in Athens who worshiped many gods and did not know the true God. The word "perhaps" fits them. They were feeling their way, like people looking for a light switch in a dark room. But the verse says God is not far away. He is not hiding from anyone. Paul goes on to say God has made Himself clear in Jesus, whom He raised from the dead. [[Acts 17:30-31]] So the search ends with a person, not a puzzle.
Apply it today: Ask yourself what you really want to know about God, and write that question down.
If God is so near, why does He sometimes feel far away?
Feelings are real, but they don't always tell the whole story. Pain, stress, a busy life or old guilt can make God seem distant. The Bible says that God is close to people with broken hearts. [[Psalm 34:18]] That means He is near even on days when you can't sense Him. Our wrongs do create distance between us and God, and that is why Jesus came. He died and rose again to bring us back to the Father. You can bring your honest feelings to Him.
Apply it today: Tell God out loud, in your own words, exactly how you feel right now.
Ask anything about it.
Every question gets a clear answer in seconds, and a way to live it today.
Live it today.
Talk to God today as if He’s close, because He is.
Pray it back.
God, You’re not far from me. I’m reaching for You today.
Carry it all day.
Put today’s verse on your lock screen, so every time you pick up your phone, the Word is the first thing you see.
On iPhone: open the image, tap Share, then Use as Wallpaper. On Android: open it and set it as your lock screen.
One verse every morning at 7 a.m. your time. Leave any time.