Acts 17:16-34

Athens 16The longer Paul waited in Athens for Silas and Timothy, the angrier he got—all those idols! The city was a junkyard of idols.
17-18He discussed it with the Jews and other like-minded people at their meeting place. And every day he went out on the streets and talked with anyone who happened along. He got to know some of the Epicurean and Stoic intellectuals pretty well through these conversations. Some of them dismissed him with sarcasm: "What an airhead!" But others, listening to him go on about Jesus and the resurrection, were intrigued: "That’s a new slant on the gods. Tell us more." 19-21These people got together and asked him to make a public presentation over at the Areopagus, where things were a little quieter. They said, "This is a new one on us. We’ve never heard anything quite like it. Where did you come up with this anyway? Explain it so we can understand." Downtown Athens was a great place for gossip. There were always people hanging around, natives and tourists alike, waiting for the latest tidbit on most anything. 22-23So Paul took his stand in the open space at the Areopagus and laid it out for them. "It is plain to see that you Athenians take your religion seriously. When I arrived here the other day, I was fascinated with all the shrines I came across. And then I found one inscribed, to the god nobody knows. I’m here to introduce you to this God so you can worship intelligently, know who you’re dealing with. 24-29"The God who made the world and everything in it, this Master of sky and land, doesn’t live in custom-made shrines or need the human race to run errands for him, as if he couldn’t take care of himself. He makes the creatures; the creatures don’t make him. Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn’t play hide-and-seek with us. He’s not remote; he’s near! We live and move in him, can’t get away from him! One of your poets said it well: ‘We’re the God-created.’ Well, if we are the God-created, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to think we could hire a sculptor to chisel a god out of stone for us, does it? 30-31"God overlooks it as long as you don’t know any better—but that time is past. The unknown is now known, and he’s calling for a radical life-change. He has set a day when the entire human race will be judged and everything set right. And he has already appointed the judge, confirming him before everyone by raising him from the dead."32-34At the phrase "raising him from the dead," the listeners split: Some laughed at him and walked off making jokes; others said, "Let’s do this again. We want to hear more." But that was it for the day, and Paul left. There were still others, it turned out, who were convinced then and there, and stuck with Paul—among them Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris.

Devotional (by Emily Alsobrook): There’s a lot we could talk about regarding this section of Scripture: idols in our lives, the background of Epicureans and Stoics, or the culture of Athens. But I think the focal point should be Paul’s statement in verses 24-29. Paul’s words are very encouraging: God doesn’t play hide and seek with us. He’s not remote; He’s near!
God doesn’t play mind games with us, give us the silent treatment and hope we’ll figure out what He wants, or hide. He is everywhere we look, sometimes we just need to open our eyes and look through the lens of faith and hope.
Because, if we’re honest, a lot of people look through the dingy lens of cynicism, skepticism, and doubt. Life can do that to us. There are so many things in this life that are grappling for our attention. We could probably list 10 right now. But we have to make the choice to focus on who God is, and not those "gods chiseled out of stone." Those distractions don’t bring hope and peace, like God can. So this Christmas season, let’s wipe the cynicism and doubt from our lens of life. Let’s look at this world, our lives, with hope, anticipating to find signs of God.

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for being near. I’m so glad you don’t play mind games or try to hide Yourself from me. There’s a lot going on my life right now. (Go ahead and list a few of them). Lord, help me to see You in the midst of all this. Help me to look for You with faith and hope. I pray those around me would see You this Christmas too. In Jesus’ name, Amen.