May 26,2011 - Acts 17:32

“When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, ‘We want to hear you again on this subject.’” Acts 17:32.
Paul came to the end of his opportunity to speak to the people of Athens, and told them, in conclusion, about the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. A number of the people were skeptical and scoffed, waving this message off as mere fable or story-telling. There were others among the crowd who were interested in learning more about what Paul had to say. There was a curiosity within these people that drew them to Paul to learn more about who Jesus was and to learn about this God who brings people back to life. Paul was not affected by anyone’s reaction or response. He was ready to give an explanation of his faith in Jesus to whoever sought to know more.
Often times when speaking to an audience, I look to the crowd to see their response or reaction. I have been swayed by my perception of what others thought of my message. In fishing for a positive response, I would even ask some individuals how they thought I did. I realized in doing this that my insecurity and lack of a healthy self-image was very evident. I have pushed through to the place where I do not care as much about what the people think, but, instead, I am more concerned about what God thinks. Looking at Paul’s example, I am trying to focus more on what God wants for me to say and focus less on the audience’s response.
Questions to consider: How can you tell when you are too concerned about what people think and too concerned about how they respond to you? How can you tell when you are focused on God and not others? Where is your security, in yourself, others, or God?
Prayer: Father, help me to center on what You want of me and not on what people want. Give me strength to speak Your message through my words and my actions. Amen.

May 19,2011 - Acts 17:31

“’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.’” Acts 17:31.
Paul comes to the pinnacle of his proclamation. He states that God’s just judgment of the world is proved by Jesus being raised from the dead. This just judgment by God is applied with mercy and grace, not only punishment for wrongdoing. It is more than that. It is bringing something that is dead and breathing new life into it, most clearly illustrated in the death and resurrection of Jesus. It is, also, what we are called to do in taking care of the poor, the disenfranchised, the exploited, and the oppressed. We do this by being agents of change in bringing new life, restoration, and reconciliation out of hopeless and helpless situations.
The other evening in a couples study group, I had an eye-opening experience. Perhaps for the first time ever, I began to realize how blind I have been to the injustices around me in the limited world that I live in on a daily basis. In an intellectual way, I have been ‘aware’ of many injustices around the world – slavery, child prostitution, oppression of the poor and disadvantaged, yet I had blinders over my eyes when it came to seeing prejudice and injustice happening right around me. Part of the working out of God’s just judgment in my life is by representing the resurrecting power of Jesus to those around me by living in a redemptive way. As happened with Jesus, this may involve confronting injustice, which can be costly and even life threatening, but it is the right thing to do.
Questions to consider: How is God’s judgment proven by the resurrection of Jesus? What injustice or oppression have you witnessed personally? What can you do, as an agent of the kingdom of God, to combat such exploitation?
Prayer: Father, thank You that You are a God of redemption, restoration, and reconciliation. Help me to recognize cruelty and repression and to be an ambassador of Your kingdom in the part of the world You’ve put me in. Amen.

May 5, 2011 - Acts 17:28

“’For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’” Acts 17:28.
As he is speaking to the Athenian men, Paul quotes phrases from two Greek poets from their past, Epimenides and Aratus. These phrases would most likely have been known by the men in Paul’s audience, as they were very educated and astute thinkers. Paul uses these phrases as a starting point in proclaiming that God is not made by the handiwork of men but is a living being. We are made in the image of God, not the other way around.
There have been times when I have made God in my own image. I’m not exactly sure what that looks like, but I thought that God was all about love. And one aspect of that love was that God would love and accept me no matter what I did or how I acted. No change in character required! What a rude awakening I had! God does love me right where I am, but He doesn’t want to leave me there in that condition. God is so much bigger than that and there is so much more to Him than we can know or understand. The truth be known: I think that all of us tend to make God in our own image. We are just sure that God acts in this certain way because that is the image that I made of Him. Isn’t it about time that we relinquish our image of who God is and fall face down in worship to this awesome, wild God?
Questions to consider: How do you make God in your own image? Have you ever experienced God’s awesome power or experienced Him in a way that totally surprised you? What was that like? What is your response to knowing that you are created in God’s image?
Prayer: Father, I bow before You. You are awesome, holy, and righteous beyond expression. I am humbled by Your sheer power and strength. I am so glad that You are not made in our image, but that You are the creator of all things. Amen.