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Silver & Stone
Tim Savage24“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 29“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. Acts 17
Paul testified to the Aeropagus, a council of intellectual philosophers in Athens, Greece. Athens was known for it’s many idols and gods, so many, in fact, they even had an idol for the unknown god, just in case they missed one that they didn’t know about. I can imagine that it must have been like speaking to an audience of scientists and professors, most of whom were skeptical of his message, but in true Paul fashion, he boldly shared the good news of Jesus and won many for Christ. Paul ends his teaching by saying that because we are God’s children we must not believe that God is an idol made of precious metal, wood or stone, fashioned by human hands. This is relevant today because we so often make our goals and idols the material things of this world: money, houses, cars, clothes, jewelry, power, fame, influence, awards and recognition.
Paul’s words to the Aeropagus are as relevant today as they were when originally spoken 2000 years ago, God is our Father, Creator and Savior and He must not be relegated to the temporal and ephemeral possessions of our world. We are imperfect, fallen beings bent toward the chasing of selfish desires and wants. I must constantly correct back to omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent God through daily time in His presence. I must die so that He can more fully live in me. I need to identify those selfish desires and the pride that quietly flares up in me and leave it all at His feet, so that I can walk more closely with Him.
Dear Heaven Father,
Forgive me for often putting this world before You. Forgive me for the pride that grows as quickly and quietly as a weed and that chokes my relationships with others and You. I want to follow You and Your plan for my life. Thank You for Your gracious guidance and direction and the grace that You extend to me even though I don’t deserve it and can never earn it.
In Jesus name,
Amen
