Week 5, Day 2
Today’s Reading: Acts 19-20
Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…
In Acts 17 Paul had the opportunity to visit Mars Hill, where he had a very interesting experience. He looked around him, and saw the many idols that were around, one even being made to the “Unknown god.” A few posts back, we looked at how the gospel preachers of the first century started with material that was familiar to the listener. In Acts 2, it was the history of the Jews. It was very similar in chapter 7 with the lesson of Stephen. However, the history of the Jews would not have been a profitable starting place. Instead, Paul started with the idolatry of the people of Corinth. He didn’t blast away at the idolatrous beliefs, but instead was able to us their statue to the “Unknown god” to open the door for teaching.
Paul taught them about this unknown god, and related that to Jehovah. He was the God that they were missing! He was the one that made the world, and everything in it. He was the One that didn’t need their worship in order to exist. You see, if they stopped worshipping their gods, then they ceased to exist. If no one worshipped Jehovah, He would still be there…our worship or lack thereof does not impact the existence of God at all!
Paul was able to teach this group of people about God, and what they needed to do to be pleasing to Christ by starting at the unlikely point of idolatrous worship. It is amazing what opportunities might be open to us if we will just keep our eyes open. Paul was able to show these people that their idolatry was not acceptable, and yet use that same idolatry to teach them the truth. This method was obviously successful, as there were several who listened and obeyed. There were others who were willing to come back and listen to Paul at a later date.
We don’t have much idolatry per se in our society today. But, there are a lot of people who are serving the “Unknown god.” They don’t know about the true Jehovah, even though they are a part of a “Christian religion.” We have the opportunity to start with the religion that they do know, and relate to them the truth of the Gospel message. Let’s teach the world about the “unknown god”!
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One Comment »
Cynthia said :
February 11, 2009 at 11:51 am
I think this account illustrates that people have an innate desire to find and follow something or someone higher. Many want to deny that desire, but people have always sought for gods, even if they created them themselves. The real test is whether people are willing to seek the true God, then do what He wants. Worship too often turns into fulfilling our own desire instead of fulfilling God’s desires. It is easy for some to obey a god that they make themselves, but it is more difficult to submit to the true God who made us.