Acts 17:16-18:3
1
Thessalonians 1:1-5:11
During Paul’s second missionary journey, the Lord led him to travel to
Macedonia and then to Greece. Thus, the Gospel made it to the continent of
Europe for the first time. His strategy was the same wherever he went. First,
he started with the Jews, talking with them in their synagogues on the Sabbath.
At every place he went, some believed and some bickered; but, if enough people
were converted, then Paul would start a church there.
While in Greece, Paul had the opportunity to stop by Athens, one of
the most intriguing cities of the ancient world. He noticed that the town was
full of statues, temples, and idols. The most famous temple was called the
Areopagus or “Council of Philosophers,” where the Athenians invited him to speak.
Of course, he took the opportunity and decided to use a statue dedicated “To
the Unknown God” to introduce everyone to the One True God — the God who made
the world and everything in it (Acts 17:22-34).
The men of Athens listened intently until Paul got to the part where
Jesus was resurrected from the dead. At that point, some laughed and their
attention ended (v.32). What is interesting is that the very topic that these men thought
laughable was what Paul used to comfort the Christians in Thessalonica. He
wrote to them, “I want you to know what will happen to the Christians who have
died so that you will not be full of sorrow like people who have no hope. Since
we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that
when Jesus comes, He will bring back all the Christians who have died... Those
who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are
still alive will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and
remain with Him forever. Comfort and encourage each other with these words” (1 Thessalonians
4:13-18).
Daily Reflection
Later, Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “The
message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction; but, we who are
being saved know that it is very power of God. As the Scriptures say, ‘I will
destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the
intelligent.’ So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the
world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world
look foolish. Since God in His wisdom saw to it that the world would never know Him
through human wisdom, He has used our foolish preaching to save those who
believe. It is foolish to the Greeks who seek human wisdom... So when we preach
that Christ was crucified, the Gentiles say it is all nonsense... But this
foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans...” (1 Corinthians 1:18-25).
What is the difference here? Why do some find the good news of Jesus
Christ so hard to accept, while others find comfort and hope in Him?
Paul addressed this question later in the same letter. “When we tell
you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we
speak words given to us by the Spirit... But people who aren’t spiritual can’t
receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they
can’t understand it...” (2:13, 14).
Praise God, that He has given you the Spirit, to open
your eyes and understand these things. To others they are foolishness, but to you they
are the power of God for salvation.
BiAY.org |Day 320 — 45 Days to Go
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