“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.” Acts 17:23
July 23, 2025
How are we to respond to people who seem blind to the Christian faith? That’s where the apostle Paul was in Athens before the intellectual elite. The fact was and is that idolatry is self-deceptive, parading itself as sincere worship. Paul’s message was not a mistake. It was skillfully adapted to the audience (read it, 17:22-31) and resulted in conversions. The heart of the sermon was the true nature of God and man’s responsibility to God. The reason God was “unknown” to them was that the revelation about Him had been rejected (Romans 1:18-32). We should not hesitate to declare the Creator-God who can be known. God rules over His creation. He is the sustainer of the universe (v.25). God cannot be reduced “to the level of a household pet dependent on us for food and shelter” (John Stott). Are we where we ought to be in our own thoughts and goals in life? Do I know God? Am I seeking Him? Am I depending on Him?
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“Lord, renew me in my boldness to be willing to bring up the subject of God when I am with those who worship false gods. Make me more gospel ready in all the circumstances of life.”