God has not left Himself without a witness doing good.

 

Tuesday, July 4, 2023


Psalms 11; 12

1 Samuel 22:6-23

Acts 14:8-18


God has not left Himself without a witness doing good.


Modern historians seem to enjoy writing articles about the Classical pagans suggesting that they did not, in fact, actually believe that their pantheon of gods existed. Working backwards from their modern atheist presuppositions, it is suggested that while there may have been a few religious weirdos who believed in a big bearded man living on top of Mount Olympus, most of the rest of the population just went along with things. But this account from Acts, of Paul and Barnabas in Lystra, suggests otherwise.


It would seem people are desperate to find a reason for the good things in life from anywhere – as long as it isn’t the living God. Have you heard the phrase “the miracle of modern science”? Is this attitude not just a repackaging of that of the people of Lystra offering sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas?


God is not a pagan god. God does not mechanically respond to obedience and sacrifice with blessing (and to disobedience with curses). Listen to how Paul and Barnabas plead with the people of Lystra; they point to God’s exceeding goodness, filling the nations with food and their hearts with joy. God is good, all the time.


But now, in the revelation of Jesus Christ, the stakes have been raised. God is no longer happy to allow the nations to follow their own ways. Jesus has given all people the means to return home: home to God, home to true worship, home where we can see where all these blessings are coming from. The revelation of God’s love has been elevated to the personal: a personal repentance, a personal turning from worthless things to the living God. A personal relationship with the creator of heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in them.

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