Welcome to Wednesday. I’m glad to be midway through the week with you In the Pastor’s Workshop.
Our title for this week’s message is “Claim the Good”. Our key verse is Genesis 1:31 (a verse where God sees all God has made as “very good”). Our supplemental Scripture is Acts 17:22-28 (verses where the Apostle Paul proclaims we “live and move and have our being” in this “very goodness” of God). Our guiding thought is: Be deliberate and diligent about stepping up and living into the goodness of God that is inherently around us and embedded within us.
On Wednesday we look at the world into which the original word of the Scripture was spoken. This week we’ll particularly focus on Paul’s preaching to the Athenians at the Areopagus (Acts 17:22).
In classic times the Areopagus was a court where “cases of deliberate homicide, wounding and religious matters” were tried. In Paul’s day it was also place where matters of law, philosophy and religion were discussed and debated.
In this setting Paul lays out his case for Christianity. It’s important to note that Paul made it a point to meet his listeners “where they were”. Even though they were not Christian, they were “religious”. They sought after God. In their seeking they wanted to “Know God”. But their seeking was misguided. The statues and shrines all throughout Athens witnessed to their spiritual “groping” (verse 27).
Their religion was polytheistic. With their many gods they sought to find a sense of the divine in the many needs of human life. They essentially created gods in their own image and gave them form by what they fashioned with their hands. And in case they had “left out” a god, they even had a statue to an “Unknown God”.
For Paul that statue to the “Unknown God” was symbolic of where the Athenians were spiritually. They were searching but they did not know God. The Apostle starts at that point, the statue of the “Unknown God”, to help the Athenians realize they can know God.
In his sermon Paul proclaims: God is the Creator; God gives life and breath to all; God created all people and permitted all empires; God is near; God is knowable; In God “we live and move and have our being”; and we are God’s children (“His offspring” – verse 28). He points out the irony that they are trying to make with their hands an image of the One who made them with His hands. In a few short verses he covers a wide expanse that invites the Athenians to turn their searching towards a Savior, Jesus Christ.
Paul’s approach is basically one not of fear (frightening his listeners into faith) but of discovery (enlightening his listeners into faith). As “seekers” they can be “finders”. They “live and move and have their being” with “life and breath” given by God who created them and formed in them God’s good image. God is so very near and so very knowable. It is a compelling proclamation that has drawn people to Christ throughout the ages.
We live and move and have our being in this same truth today. God is near and knowable. God is good and gracious. God has made us and everyone in God’s image. God invites us to know and grow in God’s goodness in ways of witness and service. It’s not only a compelling proclamation, it’s a compelling lifestyle.
As you go through today I invite you to consider how you can “Claim the Goodness”. As you do that know that our Good God is near and would lead you into that blessing.
In that faith, enjoy your “good day” and I’ll see you again tomorrow in the Pastor’s Workshop.
Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for the blessing of this “good day”. As our Creator You are in the midst of every moment, forming and fashioning in Your love. And You are inviting us to join You, sharing and showing Your love to those around us in ways that all might know Your Goodness and be blessed by Your grace. Lead us to live our lives with You, all to Your glory. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen