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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion Saturday, February 7, 2004 To an Unknown God |
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Frontline Devotion for Saturday, February 7, 2004, by Pastor Dave Sonnenberg
Bible text:
Acts 17: 1-34
I am drawn to the text today. In it, Paul finds himself in a city with many
statues. As Paul looks around, he sees that the people are very religious. He sees that they worship a plethora of God’s. One can easily be drawn to the
similarities in today’s culture. People may not see themselves as religious,
but it can easily be said that people worship a whole host of other God’s - the
God of money, the God of success, the God of pleasure, the God of convenience,
the God of trading up, the God of good looks, etc. Do you see the religion all around you?
We can go on and criticize this reality all we want, but take note of what Paul
did. Paul found a statue with an inscription - “to an unknown God”. There he
began by explaining to them that “this God” that they don’t know is different
from anything they have ever known. He explained how relationship with “this
God” transcends all and changes lives. He didn’t denounce the way they were
acting. He affirmed their desire to know something greater than themselves. He
saw their “questing” as an opportunity.
There is so much unknown in this life. There are countless people who call
themselves “spiritual” and are longing to know God. They pursue that quest by a
smorgasbord of ways - a little of this, a little of that, a touch of this, etc.
I think it is important for Christians not to denounce those who are searching
in this way. Our call is to proclaim to them the “unknown” to them - the God
who revealed himself in Jesus of Nazareth. As you think of Jesus’ life - so many
of his ways are counter to conventional wisdom. His ways are often “unknown” in
this world. May you and I be the ones to start teaching about Jesus, who is
“unknown” to countless people around you. God knows you completely. May your
life reflect that you know him as well.
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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