Acts 17:22-23
New International
Version (NIV)
22 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. 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. So you are ignorant
of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.
Know your audience, a key element to
begin any speech. So often we want to
step into the lives of people but do not want to be a part of their lives. In this passage we see that Paul had taken
the time to examine the city to see just what they believed and tried to figure
out a way to show them the true way. I
was impressed that Paul used another tactic that is taught today and that is
giving recognition and praise before pointing out the bad. H recognized that they were “religious” but
that did not mean they had a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
As for religion, I have had people
tell me that they were very “spiritual” but did not want to have anything to do
with “religion”. I am not quite sure
what that means to them but to me “religion” is not the answer but neither is “spirituality”
unless of course it is Holy Spirit who lives in your life. But what Paul recognizes in his close observation, these
men are religious and seem to be seeking something, they know that there is
someone greater than they but do not know who that is. The spiritual world on the other hand can have
implications that can be either light or dark.
There are controlling forces out there that are not of God so you can be
“spiritual” without ever knowing God. The
only “spiritual” life that I want to have is with the Holy Spirit, who is in
control of my life.
Paul found that these people were
grateful enough to know that whoever that God was, they needed to thank Him and
the only way they knew how to do so was to build with the most expensive
materials they had. They even recognized
that they did not know who this God was.
If Paul had not gotten into their lives and examined their idols, he
would not have known how to minister to them.
In closing I would like for you to listen to a song that I believe will
explain why we don’t need idols or to build a place for God to dwell. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ChgTPSzIS0
Next we will look at the importance
of seeking God as Paul continues explaining to the people of the Areopagus
about a God, the One True God that loves them.
Seek Him and know that He is near.
Seeking Him with all my heart,
Sheila
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