Good morning! Today we are continuing our reading in Acts, with Paul standing before the council sharing the Good News. Join me today and tomorrow as we read and reflect on what Paul said.

Bible verse

“²² So Paul, standing before the council,^[e] addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, ²³ for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.

²⁴ “He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, ²⁵ and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. ²⁶ From one man^[f] he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries. ²⁷ “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. ²⁸ For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your^[g] own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ ²⁹ And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone.” – Acts 17:22-29 NLT

Key Point

• They knew of God, but they didn’t know God.

Reflection

Sisters and brothers, if we walked around today we will also see idols around our neighborhoods, cities, and country. We know of God – our printed bills even say in God we trust, but do we know God. Paul provided excellent descriptions of God:

• made the world and everything in it
• he is Lord of heaven and earth
• gives life and breath to everything
• he satisfies every need
• he is not far from any one of us
• in him we live and move and exist

Sisters and brothers, God desires relationship with us. He loves us with a selfish love. He is with us. Today, take some time to ponder and reflect on God’s place in your life. Where is he? Who is he? Get to know him more.

Prayer

Father God thank you for sending your son Jesus Christ to save us and reconcile us back to you. Thank you for your love toward us and the many things you do. We praise you and are thankful for your presence in our lives. Lord God, strengthen our relationship with you. Remove man-made idols that have taken the place of you in our lives. Realign us to the things that matter to you. Show us how we can draw nearer to you and grow in our trust in you. Continue to bless and keep us, and work in and through us. In Jesus name, amen.

Events

Our next virtual retreat is Saturday, November 14, 2020 Women’s Retreat. In order to participate in the arts and crafts session and receive your supplies on time, we strongly advise that you register at least two weeks before the event.

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Bible Reference: http://biblegateway.com

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