Why Are We Here?

Acts 17:22-28

English Standard Version (ESV)

²² So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. ²³ For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. ²⁴ The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, ²⁵ nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. ²⁶ And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, ²⁷ that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, ²⁸ for

“‘In him we live and move and have our being’;

as even some of your own poets have said,

“‘For we are indeed his offspring.^.”

^{(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+17%3A22-28&version=ESV)}

                  ^{As we review this passage today there are several things that I see that can help us in our own daily walk with God.  As we go through this passage we see that Paul uses his observation skills in order to relate to the people.  I wrote about this in the previous blog.} 

                  ^{Next, we see that God did not put us here to serve Him, because He is perfectly capable of serving Himself.  After all, He is the creator of the universe and of us.  Yet, we are called to “serve” so how is it that we “serve Him”?  I have to think of an earthly king as I ponder these thoughts.  An earthly king does depend on others to help him with all of his duties.  Without the others, he cannot run a country properly.  Without his armies, he cannot fight the fight, without his speechwriters, he would not know what to say.  He may be able to cook a meal but no telling if it would really be edible or not!  He is not our God, merely a man that has been put in great power.  Our God can do all things without us, so, why does He want us?  Why has He placed us here on this earth?  He has placed us here because He loves us and He wants us to love Him back.  He wants more than anything for our praise.  Can He function without it, yes, but still He wants us to experience the joys of loving and praising Him.  We can serve Him through our praise and through our reflection of Him to others.   Could God have saved these people without Paul’s help?  Certainly but he used Paul to bring a message of love and hope to others.}

                  ^{God dwells amongst us.  He is here and He is there, God is everywhere.  It is something we do not fully understand; He is complex but yet simple enough to come to as a child.  Wow, we serve an awesome God.  He is here with us through whatever trials and tribulations we find ourselves.  He is on the move even though we think He is not.  His timing is impeccable and He is perfect.} 

^{As you seek Him today, remember, that He designed you to seek Him, without Him we are nothing and with Him we are everything, yes, “indeed we are His offspring.”}

^{Seeking Him with all my heart,}

^Sheila