Tag: Acts 17:29-32
Gospel truth declared!
Scripture reading for May 28: Acts 17
“Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent, because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a Man Whom He has appointed; and of this He has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead.” Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.”” Acts 17:29-32
Paul confronted the idol worshipers in Athens, a city full of idols. He first reasoned with them every day. Part of this reasoning was to have them look at themselves and listen to their own poets who declared that they were ‘God’s offspring’. Their bodies were fearfully and wonderfully made. They were not made of gold or silver or precious stones like the idols that their artisans had crafted. Worship of idols was a sign of great ignorance about the nature of God and His offspring.
Paul went on to call them all to repent–change their mind and dispel ignorance by believing the Truth. Worshiping idols broke God’s law and was not loving God with all heart, soul, mind and strength. God had appointed a Man–Jesus Christ, as the standard of judgment for all men, Jew or Gentile. In Jesus was perfect righteousness which God demonstrated by His resurrection from the dead. This Gospel declaration brought two responses initially. Some mocked in unbelief and refusal to repent. Others were drawn to want to hear more, knowing that there was something that they wanted.
How did you respond when someone who believed in Jesus Christ shared truth with you of your need to repent? When we share with others, are we responsible for the outcome? Knowing Jesus had warned them that they would be rejected, mocked and even killed, what motivated them to speak boldly?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for bold witnesses who are fearless and full of faith to share the Good News. Thank You for sending them to me in my youth. My love for You and others who are lost moves me to ask You daily for open doors and for boldness to share, even with those opposing truth. Amen.
Rejoicing in the One true God!
Scripture reading for August 21st: Jeremiah 9-13
Key Scriptures: Jeremiah 10:10-12 But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God, the eternal King. When He is angry, the earth trembles; the nations cannot endure His wrath. “Tell them this: ‘These gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, will perish from the earth and from under heaven.” But God made the earth by His power; He founded the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding.”
Idols are simply objects made in images but without life. They can do nothing for those who make them or those who worship them. In fact, they are destined to perish, along with those who hold them. But God alone is the living God who made the heavens and the earth. He is the eternal King who rules the nations! In Him we can find true life and One worthy of worship!
Rejoicing in the Living God: “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine Being is like gold or silver or stone–an image made by man’s design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent. For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to all man by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:29-31)