“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” - Acts 17:24 (NIV)
When in his missionary journey the Apostle Paul ventured into the city of Athens he was struck by two things. First, the Athenians spent most of the day doing nothing but talking about the latest ideas (Acts 17:21). In spite of that they could not figure out who the great God is and his plan for their salvation.
Secondly, Paul noticed Athens was filled with temples and statutes all over. In fact he came across one altar marked with an inscription to an “unknown god” (verse 23). The Athenians were a very religious people, searching God but with no idea of his plans for salvation through Jesus.
The experience of Paul travelling through Athens could be the same with any of us visiting our modern cities. It is easy to find folks arguing about where truth can be found
on social media almost all day. And then also one can find temples of all nature rising across the city. This is usually where they have assigned and restricted God as folks go about their lives.
One thing Paul reminded the Athenians is that in spite of all their great arguments and temples the truth was actually not far from them. “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 boundary of their lands. God did this so that they should seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any of us” (Acts 17:27-28).
Prayer for today: Lord Father in heaven today I pray in the blessed name of Jesus ever to share the truth of your salvation like Paul did for you are not far from any who truly desires to know you!
Related upcoming events
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23/04/2024 - 24/04/2024 All day“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31)
There are many instances we find in the scriptures where God came and told a person, “I will come!” It was quite difficult to comprehend then and the waiting took a bit of time, but the Lord came through.
We find so in Gen 18:10, how the Lord spoke to Abraham, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” And surely at the right time the Lord came through.
The prophet Isaiah did long before the birth of Christ prophecy, “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (9:6-7).
Well, it took a bit of time; but it surely came to pass. There is here a remarkable fact about knowing God which none of us should ever lose sight of. As He once spoke through the prophet Balam, “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” ( Numbers 23:19).There is a world of difference between God and man! If He has promised; He will fulfill. The Lord’s “Yes” is truly “Yes;” and His “No,” quite frankly, “No! “ Listen to God. If He has said, “I will come”, just wait, for as with the prophets, the Lord is not in the business of falling back on His own word!
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, as you word says, you are not a human that you should lie, and for this, I hold on to your promises over my life, as I wait on you, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
