from Gary Hamrick
... Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Chapel
for
Seeing the Lost Through God’s Eyes
... May we ask the Lord to give us eyes that see people not as interruptions or opponents, but as souls in need of His saving grace.
Acts 17:16 NKJV (devotion translation)
Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.
Devotion:
As Paul walked through Athens, he was surrounded by a culture devoted to many gods, yet ignorant of the one true God. Instead of responding with anger or superiority, he was deeply troubled because he understood what lay beneath the city’s idolatry. People were searching for meaning, purpose, and fulfillment apart from the Lord. His burden was not merely over their practices, but over their lost condition.
Paul’s response is instructive for us. He did not withdraw from the people around him, nor did he remain silent. He entered their world, listened to them, reasoned with them, and pointed them to Christ. He recognized that every person carries a God-given longing that can only be satisfied through a relationship with the Creator. Though many in Athens were religious, they still needed redemption through Jesus.
The same remains true today. Many people pursue fulfillment through achievements, possessions, relationships, or personal ambitions. Yet none of these things can reconcile a person to God. Only Christ, through His death and resurrection, provides forgiveness of sins and peace with the Father. The gospel calls people not merely to add Jesus to their lives, but to turn from sin and place their trust in Him.
As followers of Christ, we are called to be faithful witnesses. Some may reject the message. Others may remain curious but undecided. Still others may believe. Our responsibility is not to change hearts, but to faithfully share the truth and trust God with the results. He alone brings spiritual life.
Prayer:
Lord, give me a heart that reflects Your compassion for those who do not know You. Help me to faithfully point others to Jesus and trust You with the work of changing hearts. Amen.
Digging Deeper:
- Acts 17:22-31 ↗ - Paul’s message to the people of Athens shows how he met them where they were, revealed the truth about the one true God, and pointed them to repentance and Christ.
- Matthew 9:36-38 ↗ - Jesus looked upon the crowds with compassion because they were spiritually lost, calling His followers to pray for workers to bring in the harvest.
- 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 ↗ - Believers are entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation, representing Christ by sharing the message of salvation with others.
- Romans 1:20-23 ↗ - Paul explains how humanity’s search for meaning apart from God leads to idolatry, exchanging the Creator for created things.
- 1 Peter 3:15 ↗ - Christians are called to be ready to give a reason for their hope, doing so with gentleness and respect.