The Right Way to Share
22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.
24 "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 hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'
29 "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. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 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 men by raising him from the dead."
Bee's Thoughts:
Paul had modelled how we may share the gospel without offending others.
- Firstly, he acknowledged the people for being very "religious" (v22).
- Secondly, he pointed out his observation that the people worshipped the "UNKNOWN GOD", one which they have no personal relationship with (v23).
- Thirdly, he shared with them who God is (v24-27):
- God made heaven and earth, so He doesn't need to live in man-made temples.
- God made men, so He doesn't need to be served by human hands.
- God multiplied men, He determined when and where they live.
- God desires that men should seek Him, He is near to men
Dear Lord,
Thank You for today's passage that I can learn from Paul how I may share the gospel to others without offending. May You open the eyes of those who do not know You to see Your greatness. That they may know that You are the Lord of the universe, yet You want to have a special relationship with them, Your creation.
Thank You for opening my eyes to see You. Amen.
Tommy's Thoughts:
I’ve met many people, some who are very close to me, that admitted that they did believe in an unknown god but do not trust him entirely. They feel that at the end all depend on themselves as there’s no assurance or clarity in what they believe in. Nevertheless, they still do and follow all kind of rituals and rules with the fear of missing any blessings or receiving punishments from god.
Paul’s address in today passage is a good example and approach of how we should communicate the gospel to these people. Instead of shooting down people with our knowledge, Paul began by using examples they understood (v22-23) as entry point for his witness. Then, he established a common ground by emphasizing what they agreed about God (v24-29). Finally, he moved people toward a decision about Jesus Christ (v30-31).
Dear Lord, thank You for teaching me to be like Paul, always want to seek and know more about Your teachings; to be prepared to present the gospel whenever we can, not only when we feel adequately equipped but working with what we already know. Thank You also for teaching me not to hold back the truth or changing my basic message because of what other might think of them.
Ya Lord, one more thing, I pray that You will heal the excruciating pain of my tooth now so that I’ll have a goodnight sleep tonight…and do give my dentist the wisdom to treat it properly and effectively tomorrow. And thanks Bee for your forever caring prayers. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
.......the devotion of Bee & Tommy
