Known God

One of the most prolific writers in the New Testament is also a very interesting character with a story to tell. His story is important for you and I today. First, a little background. Paul was a Greek-speaking Jewish person from Tarsus in the region of what is now in modern-day Turkey. He became a member of the strict Pharisaic sect of Judaism.

 He was zealous for his faith tradition and promoted it in an extreme way. That is, until he encountered Jesus. Paul gives a short synopsis of the confidence of his faith in Christ in a letter he wrote to Christ-followers in the city of Philippi:
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” Philippians 3:20–21

Paul was anxious to tell others about Jesus, and he chose his approach carefully. Once, when he was speaking to the crowd who had gathered, he began with:
“Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’”

Paul engages people at their point of interest. He notes they are religious, and so much so that they even have an altar to a religious figure they don’t even know. He starts at that point saying, “What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things.” He goes on to introduce them to the person of Jesus. You can read the entire account at Acts 17:22-28a.

As we seek to apply Paul’s message to our lives today, what are some of the known and unknown “gods” that are worshipped today? What are the things that challenge us, or distract us? What are the temptations that our culture and environment offer as meaningful?
Paul always comes back to his main message. Look what he says about God and what he has done for us through Jesus. As you embrace his message, what are the implications for us in our lives today?

Closing Prayer:
Dear Father in heaven, sometimes our actions betray the words we speak. Sometimes our inaction hides the love we have for You and others. Remind us that we are Your redeemed, forgiven, freed and empowered children! Let us not forget this, rather, help us to step into it and let this truth guide our everyday actions and encounters with others. Like Your precious and powerful Word, may we be a light shining on people’s path as we point the way to You, O Lord! In Jesus’ name, Amen!