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In Acts chapter 17 the Apostle Paul preaches to the people in Athens. He was trying to explain the “unknown God” to the educated people there.

In verses 23 and 24 he talks about the world and how it came into being. It says…

[24] “He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, [25] and human hands can’t serve his needs-for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need.

In this passage we see five keys things about God and His creation.

1. God made the world and everything in it.
2. He is the Lord of heaven and earth.
3. We can’t serve Him personally as He has no needs.
4. He gave life to everything.
5. He satisfies every need.

These are five key things about how we got here and why we are alive. Paul then goes on to tell us why God did what He did. Verse 27 says…

[27] “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him-though he is not far from any one of us.

Paul told the people of Athens that God created the world and His purpose was for us to come to know Him. God’s goal has always been a personal relationship with us all.

This is why He created the world. Why He created humans. Why He sent prophets in the Old Testament. Why Jesus came to live amongst us. And why the Holy Spirit is active in the world today.

God loves you and I and He wants to be a part of our lives. He is always reaching out to us. Will you reach out to Him today?

The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness (Exodus 34:6).

In Roman and Greek mythology the gods were easily angered. It is the same with most ancient religions. Often the people lived in fear and had to offer daily sacrifices to appease their gods.

But our God, the God of the Bible and the Creator of the Universe, is slow to anger and abounding in love. He is also compassionate, faithful and gracious. We are told this time and time again in the Bible.

We are also told that we become His adopted children when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. This means He is for us, He is on our side and we don’t have to live in fear any more. We are completely accepted.

Prayer

Thank You God that as Your adpoted children we do not have to live in fear. Help us to remember that You are compassionate, gracious, slow to anger and always abounding in love towards us. Amen

1 Peter 5:10 NLT – In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.

When we are suffering, we often feel as though our pain will never end. In this verse the Apostle Peter gave these faithful Christians a more eternal perspective. When we compare our current suffering with eternity, our suffering lasts “a little while.” Some of Peter’s original readers would be strengthened and delivered in their own lifetimes. Others would be released from their suffering when they died. All of God’s faithful followers are assured of an eternal life with Christ, where there will be no suffering. Revelation 21:4 echoes this when it says, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

Prayer

Dear God, I thank You that suffering does not last forever. I thank You for the promise that those who suffer will be strengthen and delivered. I also thank You that there will be a time when there will be no more death, sorrow, crying or pain. Amen