Daily Devotional for December 29, 2015
Acts 17
Scripture:
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.
Observation:
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you had only five minutes to share the gospel? Many have tried to summarize the good news in the public arena, and usually someone takes exception to any attempt to do so. Outside of church walls, the gospel is not a subject people want to talk about in public. But it is exactly in the arena of everyday life that the message is most desperately needed.
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious” (Acts 17:22).
The apostle Paul found an opportunity to address the people of Athens in the meeting of the Areopagus, which was a council of civic leaders who oversaw the philosophical and moral life of the city. Some were willing to listen, while others severely rejected the teaching. But a few believed and were glad to take hold of the truth.
Being religious isn’t in fashion today. Being “spiritual” in some manner is more acceptable. Despite how people see themselves, everyone needs to hear the truth.
Application:
- Personal Application: Yesterday the devotional challenged us to “Share The Light.” Today is about being ready to share. Practice summarizing the gospel for someone you know who needs to hear the truth. Write down the story of how God has transformed your life.
- Family Devotional: Read this chapter to your family. Ask them if anything spoke to them as you read. Talk about their answers and show them that one important aspect of this chapter is we must be ready at any time to share God’s story, clearly and effectively. Pray for them.
Prayer:
- Personal Prayer Focus: Ask God to help you clarify the story of how He has transformed your life.
- Family Prayer Focus: Pray that your family will be able to articulate God’s story when they have the opportunity.
Three Year Reading Plan for Sunday, December 27 – Sunday, January 3:
- Sunday, December 27: Acts 15
- Monday, December 28: Acts 16
- Tuesday, December 29: Acts 17
- Wednesday, December 30: Acts 18
- Thursday, December 31: Acts 19
- Friday, January 1: Acts 20
- Saturday, January 2: Acts 21
- Sunday, January 3: Acts 22
—TOM GROOT is National Director of Men’s Ministry and Christian Education. Connect with Tom on Facebook or Twitter @TomGrootJr.
Portions of this devotional are adapted from God’s Word for Today, November 22, 2013.
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