I want us to fall in love with the Bible. It is the living Word of God. The Bible was written for us to get to know God.
Hannah Brencher explained it so well when she said, “The Bible is rich and fatty and good for you and still the culture tells us the Bible is like lettuce. It’s not flashy. It’s not proud. But it is the living, breathing Word of God. If you want to hear Him speak, it’s a whole book of Him just talking to you.”
I’m going to start pushing to read the Bible more and more, because the Word of God will keep us. Something I love that I’ve always heard my mom say is “Keep reading the Bible, because it will keep you.” It will keep us in the will of God and it will keep us in love with God. Reading the Bible teaches us and opens so many doors of curiosity and learning. It is a way for us to learn God.
. . .
I’ve been reading the book of Acts lately. Today I read chapter 17. I want talk about that chapter for a bit. You go grab your leather bound Bible and a cup of coffee and let’s start reading. (Here’s a link to the scriptures if you’d like to read here).
I loved this chapter because Paul’s message is a full statement of God.
Paul was waiting on some of his buddies to get in town.
While he was there waiting, I imagine he strolled Athen’s city streets. I can see him watching the people and observing the culture that had seeped into every bit of the city. It wasn’t good culture though. What he saw, was a nation entirely given to worshiping idols. It stirred him so deeply. Verse 16 says, “His spirit was stirred in him.”
He was so stirred that he started talking. He sought to change the city and turn it away from the sin. He spoke with leaders. He talked with those he’d meet in the market place. Every day. He disputed about the idolatry and preached to them Jesus.
Certain people heard of him and wanted to know what he was all about. They brought him to a place called Areopagus and asked him about all he’d been disputing over. So Paul stood in the middle of Mar’s Hill, and guess what he said. He called them of their faults. “I think you’re too superstitious,” Paul said. He told them how he’d watched and saw the center of their worship. He spoke of how he’d found an alter with the words “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD” written on it.
Paul saw that they worshiped a God without knowing or comprehending Him. “Ignorance,” he said. “You don’t know God, but I do… so I will declare Him unto you.
|Definition of declare : to make known formally, officially, or explicitly : to make clear : to make evident : to state emphatically : affirm (From Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary)|
I will declare Him unto you.
And there he goes, Standing in the midst of Mar’s Hill, in Athens Greece.
“That God that you mark as unknown, I’ll tell ya about Him.”
And Paul so beautifully exclaims to them God.
Then he tells them of the the resurrection and how Jesus is coming back for us.
Some mock him. Some wonder. But some believe and grow hungry for the truth of God.
. . .
I want my spirit to be stirred when I see all that is around me.
When I see my nation wholly giving itself to idolatry, cruel violence, lust and adultery, vanity… and the list could go on, I want my spirit to be stirred. Why do I look at the sin and let it fall into the back of my mind as if it’s nothing to worry about? Why am I not stirred deep down?
I want to tell people about Jesus. I want to let them know that He is alive and coming back for us. I want them to know God loves us. I want you to know that Jesus loves us. He’s here and wants us to get to know Him. I want to declare God like Paul did in Acts 17:24-31. I want people to believe and grow hungry for the truth of God like they did when they heard Paul’s declaration.
But how can I declare who God is if I don’t know Him myself? I must get to know God. I must cultivate a relationship with Him every single day. That is why I’m starting on scripture. Scripture and prayer. Read Paul’s declaration of God to the people who don’t know Him, in Acts chapter 17. Print it out. Plaster it on the walls. Know who God is and declare Him to the people. Declare for yourself, the truth of who God is.
Olivia Fortner
Olivia Fortner 