The Known God

 

So Paul stood in the midst of the Council of Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects.  For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.  Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.”

“The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath, and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are His children.’”

“Being the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man.”

“Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has raised from the dead.”

Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer but others said, “We shall hear you again concerning this.”

So Paul went out of their midst.

But some men joined him and believed….

Acts17:22-34

 

I think this is one of the Apostle Paul's greatest sermons.  His description of God is powerful and persuasive and rings true today.

People are still seeking the Unknown God.  He is the God we know who loves them, and requires no silver or gold but only their worship.  

God is right there with those who seek Him, waiting to be invited into their lives.  All we have to do is what The Apostle Paul did, tell them that God “…is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist….”  And, we are His children.

 

We know the Known God and we can introduce Him to those who are seeking.  Be bold like Paul, when you see an opportunity to tell someone about Jesus, do it.   

Meal Time Is Happy Time

Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it than a house full of feasting with strife.

Proverbs 17:1 

Meal time is happy time.  It is not the time to discipline children or argue with our spouses or our guests. 

Meal time should be a time of sharing about the day's happenings.  A time for congratulations and for fostering a feeling of safety in the family.  If meal time at your house is rowdy, perhaps you can set a few rules and share them with your family before meal time so they have time to think about them.

God is all about loving one another and we can bring love to the dinner table.

Love One Another

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.    

The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 

 

By this the love of God was manifested in us that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.  

 

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

 

1 John 4:7-11

In the comic strip Peanuts Linus once said, “I love humanity.  It is people I can’t stand.” 

 

Human nature is a lot like that.  It is difficult for us to love people who are not lovable, but those are the people who need love the most. 

Once we have experienced God’s love, His love begins to work in us.  We see people not as they are on the outside, but as people who God loves and we begin to love them.  

 

We offer kindness and understanding and love to others, because when we are filled with God's love it is bound to spill out. 

 

So, remember God loved us, so we ought to love one another. 

  

While We Were Helpless

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for a good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:6-8

God does not limit His love to only good people or people with small sins.  God's love is for everyone. He dares to do what no one else ever has done.  He loves us when we are sinners, when we are not good.  

Jesus came for all men, women and children.  And, He is waiting for you.

This is possible, not because we are good, but because God is good.  

Invite Jesus into your life today, be forgiven and feel God's love. 

God Is On Your Side

 

The Lord sustains all who fall

And raises up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to You.

And You give them their food in due time.

You open Your hand

And satisfy the desires of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all His ways

And kind in all His deeds.

The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,

To all who call upon Him in truth.

He will fulfill the desires of those who fear Him;

He will also hear their cry and will save them.

Psalm 145:14-19

God completely cares for us.  When we are down He lifts us up.  He meets our needs.  And, He is kind to us.

When we call on God, He hears and answers.

We are never left alone, because God is always with us.  

Trust God, He is on your side. 

Speak Up

 

Open your mouth for the mute,

For the rights of the unfortunate.

Open your mouth, judge righteously,

And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.

Proverbs 31:8-9

Did you ever see something happen that you thought was unfair and did not say anything?  I have.  Afterwards I got a double whammy of discomfort caused by witnessing an injustice and doing nothing to stop it. 

Why don’t we speak up?  Are afraid of being told to “mind your own business” or being ridiculed?  If we think about what Jesus would do, there is no doubt that He would intervene.   

Speak up.  It is the right thing to do.

Comfort Those Who Are Suffering

 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

God’s comfort brings us peace in the worst of times. Because we have this great gift from God, we are able to comfort those who are suffering.

Comfort, like all the gifts we receive from God, is ours to give away.