The Altar to the Unknown God Found 1820 Palatine Hill
Today is Acts 17.
Paul and his companions continued on their missionary journey spending time in various gathering places declaring the gospel of Jesus. Some received the message others did not and would try to incite the crowds against him. Each time Paul would move on but continue to share Jesus.
Paul ended up in Athens, Greece. He was greatly distressed to see the number of idols that were in the city. He noted that the people there were very religious. They were searching for God, the one true God. They even had an idol erected in honor of the “Unknown God.” That very God they were looking for did not want to be unknown in their lives. He had been speaking to them all along.
“The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 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, 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,” Acts 17:24-27 ESV
We are not that different than the people of Athens. We erect all kind of things we worship instead of the true and living God. We run after our ways, our thoughts, and our own ideas instead of following His Word. But our God wants us to KNOW Him. This is why He sent Jesus and this is why He longs to fill us to overflowing with the Holy Spirit. He wants us to seek Him and find Him.
“Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”” Acts 15:10-11 NIV
Today is Acts 15
There was a division in he early church. A council met to discuss this division. Some of the Jewish believers wanted the new Gentile believers to be circumcised so that they could observe the Jewish law. Peter spoke to the council with these words, “We believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus…”
Salvation does not come through rituals, traditions, works, being an extra good person… Salvation is through grace alone! There is nothing we can do to be saved, except admit that we are sinners, believe in Jesus, and confess He is our Lord!
God is not looking for us to join a religion. He is wanting us to be in a relationship with Him. This was evident when the Gentiles, heard the Word of God and believed, the Holy Spirit was given to them. It was the same for the Gentiles as the Jews.
Hear the Word! Receive the Word! Believe the Word! This is the way to truly love God. Our love will be expressed in our obedience to Him.
Then we will experience God in a deep and intimate relationship, what we were created for.
““Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them.” Acts 14:15 NIV
Today is Acts 14.
Paul and Barnabas continue on their missionary journey “speaking boldly for the Lord.” God “confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.” (Verse 3)
When they got to Lystra they prayed for a man who had never walked and that man was healed. This caused the crowds to want to worship Paul and Barnabas. They said that Paul was Hermes and Barnabas was Zeus. Paul and Barnabas tore their clothes and ran into the crowd telling them loudly to not do this. They were only men. Then Paul said, “We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God.”
The crowd worshipped idols. In our world today, we may think we are a little more educated and sophisticated because we don’t worship Ancient Greek Gods. But, ANYTHING that we put before God is an idol.
In America, we worship: money, careers, our kids sports programs, music, education — (our own knowledge or the attitude that we know better than what the Scripture says), psychology and science, possessions, our phones (social media), dating, politics, etc. The list could go on and on. We choose to exalt things in our lives above the “living God.” What is our focus on throughout the day? This may very well be an idol.
All these pursuits and passions are dead idols… But there is good news just as there was in Paul’s time. There is a living God! He longs to “fill your hearts with joy.” (Verse 17) But we must turn from the “worthless things to the living God.”
What are you pursuing and passionate about? God longs to be the center of our lives!
“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them”…. sent on their way by the Holy Spirit…they proclaimed the word of God.” Acts 13:2,4-5 NIV
Today is Acts 13.
The church in Antioch spent time worshipping and fasting. As they did the Holy Spirit directed them to send out Saul, who is also called Paul, and Barnabas on a missionary journey. As Paul and Barnabas went out, they “proclaimed the word of God.” Everywhere they went people’s lives were changed. The people were “astonished at the teaching of the Lord.” The people “begged that these things might be told them.” One account in verse 44 says “almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.” The Gentiles “began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord…” verse 48. In fact, “the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.”
We have the same Holy Spirit living inside of us. We have the same Word of God to proclaim! People are hungry to hear. We too can worship and fast to hear the direction of the Holy Spirit so that we can go out and proclaim God’s Word.
Our world is no different than the world during the time of the early church. People need to hear about Jesus and all that He has done! We have the Word that brings life. May we boldly proclaim that Word in the power of the Holy Spirit!
“So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”” Acts 11:17 NIV
Today is Acts 11.
Peter’s visit with Cornelius was controversial with the Jewish believers. They had not understood God’s plan. The Jews did not closely affiliate with the Gentiles. They would not even eat with them. But Peter explained why he went, and how God had revealed to Him in a vision that he needed to “make no distinction” between himself and the Gentile men who came to him. When the Gentile household received the Holy Spirit as he had, Peter came to a conclusion. “Who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”
God wants complete surrender of our ideas, thoughts, plans, dreams, etc. to Him. His way is better than anything we could ever conceive. We may think a certain way, but when it is held up to the truth of the Word of God that way must change. Peter “remembered the word of the Lord.“ (verse 16) This changed how he had always lived his life. He obeyed the Word of the Lord. This obedience brought life not only to Cornelius, but it opened the door for the Gentiles (which is you and me) to come. “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.“
When God speaks to us, we must listen. We must obey! It may be uncomfortable, but our obedience to His Word is always for our good and the good of those around us. May we say as Peter did, “who was I that I could stand in Gods way?”
“Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.”Acts 8:4 NIV
Today is Acts 8.
After Stephen was martyred, “great persecution” came against the church. This caused the church to scatter “throughout the regions.” But this did not stop the Good News about Jesus from continuing to spread. Those who were scattered continued on mission, “preaching the Word.” (Verse 4)
As they did, lives were being changed. Demons were being cast out of people, and the “paralyzed or lame were healed.” (Verse 7) In Samaria, it was reported that “there was much joy in that city” (Verse 8 ) because Philip had proclaimed Jesus to them and they paid attention to what was being said.
When we desire to serve God with all our hearts, opposition will occur. In America, we may not live under the threat of martyrdom, but that does not mean that our enemies, the world, the flesh, and the devil, will not try to stop us. We must be determined to stay on mission and preach the Word!
We have the message that changes lives. We have the same Holy Spirit working within us to empower us to boldly proclaim Jesus! As we ask Him to fill us to overflowing, He will work in us and through us to proclaim Jesus to everyone we come in contact with no matter what opposition may arise.
“Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”Matthew 4:4 NIV
Dear Devoted and Determined Princess Warriors,
Have you ever considered the condition of your spiritual life? Would you describe your spiritual life as one of abundance, thriving in a living and real relationship of oneness with God? Or have you been living a life that is destitute — wanting and needy, never satisfied, never content, without continual comfort, hope, joy or peace? I considered these questions almost 4 years ago, when I first began attending WOW. At that time, I did not know that the most important thing about me was my spiritual heart. I knew I was living without hope, joy, and peace. I was not satisfied nor was I content; however, I did not realize why. I did not realize that the Word of God was an indispensable necessity for my spiritual heart and life. I did not see that I truly could not live or thrive without the Word.
My spiritual condition was similar to a physical condition my daughter, Faith, experienced as a newborn. She did not latch on correctly when nursing. The first two weeks of her life were absolutely miserable for her. I tried to get her to nurse correctly, but she couldn’t. She cried and cried and could not be comforted. When I took her in for her two-week checkup, she had lost two pounds. The doctor instructed me to supplement her feedings with formula. When I did, Faith suddenly became a sweet and peaceful infant. The weight loss stopped, and she began to grow.
Four years ago, I was not latching on to the source of my spiritual food, the Word of God. I was not thriving nor was I surviving well. I thought I could satisfy and fulfill myself with earthly things when I was meant to be connected to God in a love/ faith relationship. Simply put, I was not making room for God’s Word to dwell in my spiritual heart. I was not reading His Word, receiving it, understanding it, believing it, and obeying it. Instead, I was ignoring it, neglecting it, omitting it, cherry picking it, and rejecting it. As a result, I was living a destitute life — empty and hopeless.
In our verse this week Jesus is speaking of such a condition. Jesus tells us that “‘…Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” As my infant daughter needed physical nutrition in order to thrive, you and I need spiritual nutrition. Jesus, the living Word, is “…the true bread from heaven” (John 6:32)! Jesus and every inspired word written in the 66 books of the Bible are the bread, the spiritual food you and I desperately need for nourishment, sustenance, and growth of our spiritual hearts and lives. Every day we need to continually feed on the Word of God that is right and true, sweet as honey, more precious than a thousand pieces of silver and gold. As we make room for the Word in our hearts, we will truly live a life of abundance! But we must choose to “latch on to the Word,” or receive the Word and take it in.
As I consider the words spoken by Jesus in our verse this week, I am contemplating these questions: How hungry am I for His Word? Do I long for His Word more than I long for my next physical meal? Do I take time planning and scheduling when I can eat more of the Bread of Life, God’s Word, and take it into my spiritual heart? Perhaps you wonder the same things. The Word of God is an indispensable necessity for our spiritual hearts and lives. May we truly hunger for “every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
This week’s song is “Your Words” by Third Day featuring Harvest.
“Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.” Revelation 5:13-14 NIV
I love this scene of worship recorded in the Word. For one moment when I read it I get a small picture of the reality of what is going on right now in heaven.
This morning I have been reminded of how I have been invited to join that chorus.
“But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” Hebrews 12:22-24 NIV
Jesus opened the door for me join in, but how many time have I sat down with my Bible to “do” my quite time and only read the Word.
I know I have limitations. I live in a fallen world, but I must never forget that I have the invitation to come. I, at any time, can join the heavenly worship that goes on day and night.
There is a quote that says we are to “Come to God with God in mind.” The time I spend with God each morning really isn’t about me. It is about Him. I must come desiring to experience Him!
Each morning I am like Zacchaeus who climbed the sycamore tree to see Jesus. When I sit down in my chair and open His Word, I want to see a glimpse of Him. But Jesus is always so much more than I could ever ask, think, or imagine. He wants me to come down from my sycamore tree because He wants to “stay at my house” (Luke 19:5). My response can only be like Zacchaeus’s was — receive Jesus joyfully!
When I sit down in the early morning to spend time with Jesus, may I always be reminded who I am welcoming into my life. May I join in with the heavenly chorus worshipping Him. It is there that I get a glimpse of Jesus and the invitation to sit down with Him. So I may live as one with Him, listening to His Word.
Worship ushers me in to time with Him in His Word. Time that is not like any other. I miss it all if I come just to read a short devotion and mark off my religious box. He has come to stay at my house to be with me! How could I not do like Zacchaeus and “receive Him joyfully?” How could I not, if only for a few moments, join the heavenly chorus in my worship of Him?
“I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word.” John 8:37 NIV
Dear Princess Warriors,
Last week at WOW we began to learn what it is to have a heart at home in the Word. We learned about the relationship of oneness God desires to have with us. It is man’s true spiritual home where God dwells in man and man dwells in God – attached, connected, united, indivisible, and inseparable. Jesus, the Word made flesh, came to establish this relationship when He came to earth and made His dwelling among us. He died a cruel death on the cross making it possible for the heart of God to once again dwell in the hearts of men as it was in the beginning. God truly desires for us to have our hearts at home in the Word.
The WOW verse for this week is the words of Jesus that He spoke to a group of Jews who did not desire to live in a deep and intimate relationship with the Word. In fact, Jesus states some of the saddest words in scripture with regards to their spiritual hearts: “…you have no room for my word.” These men did not want to receive, understand, believe, and obey the Word. Their spiritual hearts were hard and black… unreceptive. They did not desire to experience their true spiritual home.
This semester at WOW we have been learning this truth: the Word of God is the indispensable necessity of our lives. The words Jesus spoke in our verse this week remind me of how important it is for me to make room for His Word. In order to make room for the Word, I must hold the Word, who is Jesus, in the place of highest honor. I must revere Him as my supreme authority, my Lord. I must live my life in total submission to Him. As I make room for the Word in my spiritual heart, I will trust in the Word having complete confidence in Him resting my mind on His integrity and truthfulness. I will live my life in total dependence on Him. When I make room for the Word in my heart, I will allow His Word to transform my mind and influence my conduct. I will live in total obedience to Him.
As you read the words of our verse this week and reflect upon them, I would encourage you to ask yourself this question: “Am I making room for the Word to be at home in my spiritual heart?” It is His desire to establish a permanent and lasting relationship of oneness, Home, within our hearts. He wants us to live attached, connected, united, indivisible and inseparable from the Word. May our deepest desire be to make room for the Word in our hearts.
Our song this week is “Make Room” by Meredith Andrews featuring Sarah Reeves & Chris McClarney
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”John 1:14 NIV
When I was engaged to my husband Rich, he lived in a small apartment in St. Charles, Missouri. It held his bed and his clothes. It was a place he landed on occasion after work or school. It really was not his home. Cleaning it, decorating it, and making meals there was not a thing of concern to him. He was too busy with working full time and going to school full time. However, all this changed when we got married and I moved in. I did my best to give the apartment and his new life a woman’s touch. It went from a dirty bachelor pad to a cleaned-up home. It went from plain white walls to decorations and pictures. Rich went from his nightly dinner of McDonald’s cheeseburgers to home cooked meals. He went from sitting alone each night to companionship. I had come and turned a place he used only to sleep in, to a place where he abided with affection and found refuge and rest. With he and I together in that little apartment, we experienced home.
This month at WOW our verses are about a special relationship of oneness with God – home. Our spiritual hearts experience their true home as we live attached, connected, united, indivisible, and inseparable with God. It is God in man and man in God. As we have faith in Him, loving and obeying His Word, desiring to delight to do His will, we will experience this relationship with God. We will be led home to the heart of God expressed in His Word, knowing Him and all His goodness.
This week’s WOW verse speaks of this expression of God’s heart. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory…” Jesus is the Word made flesh. He came to dwell with us. Not only did He dwell with us, but He died on the cross so that the heart of God could once again dwell in the hearts of men like it was in the beginning before sin entered our world. This is the relationship of oneness with God that He desires for us to experience with Him.
In a small way, this relationship of oneness is similar to the relationship Rich and I experienced when we were married, and I moved into his apartment. When I came to dwell with Rich, our lives changed for the better as we have experienced home together. Jesus, the Word of God, came to establish a relationship of home with us, a place of intimate relationship. He has come to dwell within us through His Word. When we receive the Word into our lives, understanding what He desires to do within us, and believing every Word He is speaking, we will obey Him. We will truly experience Him and His love. We will know Him as our true spiritual home.
Perhaps as you read this, you realize that your heart has been empty and void of its true spiritual home? The Word, Jesus, is longing to come and reside inside of you. The Word wants to clean up the mess that sin has left behind in your spiritual heart. He wants to make Himself at home in your heart filling you with His love. He wants to change your heart into His image so that you can experience Him fully. May we receive the Word, understanding and believing Him. May we obey what He says! May our hearts experience this beautiful relationship of oneness, home, – attached, connected, united, indivisible, and inseparable – with Jesus, the Word!
Your Love 