Intentionally, intentional!
The gospel is going forth on this missionary journey across the earth. From city to city the grace of Jesus is taught and the call to repentance is preached. After Paul is sent away to Athens and is awaiting the disciples we read, “Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.” Acts 17:16
He recognizes the religiosity and idolatry of so many in the city. They are so steeped in worshipping idols (things) they even have a stature “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD”. Question, do our hearts become provoked for those around us who don’t know Jesus? I’m asking myself this question and desiring the Lord would give me (us) a greater burden for those around us. Paul ends up sharing what we can and should share with others, ““God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”” Acts 17:24-31
Father, help us to grow in our compassion. Strengthen us as people who hurt for people rejecting you. As we do life with people around us give us a heart to share with them the truth of Your goodness. In Jesus name, AMEN!
- To Know Jesus. To Live on Mission.