Today's Passage - Acts 17:16-21

Acts 17:16-21   While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean." (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)   The Athenians have an interesting characteristic.  They love to talk about and listen to new ideas.  This is the same problem we have with our society today.  People want to talk about and listen to the truth, but do not wish to face the truth.  In such a rapidly-changing world, a piece of news is only good for a week, before you have to change the subject.  People always like to listen to new things, so this word does not care about the truth that we are preaching.     Unfortunately, this is also true of the church sometimes.  Many Christians merely talk about and listen to God's truth, but they do not truly place their faith in God, or believe that God can transform the world.  These Christians go to church every Sunday, listen to the worship team and the pastor's sermon, without truly experiencing or having faith in God.  Once a sister sang a song called "The Lord lives" during the Easter service.  In the chorus part, the lyrics go, "Jesus is still live, He talks to me, He walks with me, along the narrow path of life."  When she got done singing, the people in the audience were touched.  An old lady came up to her and asked, "What does He say when He talks to you?"  This sister replied bewilderedly, "Talk to who?"  The old lady said, "Jesus! Didn't you just sing the song that says he talks to you and walks with you?"  Finally, this sister said, "I was just singing!"   The truth is many Christians still live under the sin of idolatry today.  Although they worship God with their mouths and claim to be Christians, they worship things of this world in their daily lives, such the worship of money or other things that draws our hearts away from God. In the Bible, the prophets rebuke the people of Israel multiple times, saying that their mouths may be close to God, but their hearts are far from God.  This is also a portrayal of today's Christians and the reason that the church is so weak today!   May the Lord help us to not just listen to and talk about God's Word, but also be willing to live according to His Word each day of our lives.    Pray with Pastor Tong   Lord, we pray that you help us, not only to read your Word each day of our lives, but to act according to your Word as well.  Help us not to merely listen to your Word and talk about it, but also to engrave your word upon our hearts, so we may live a life that is Christ-like.  We thank you and we pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!       Participate in Shekinah Glory - ROLCC Building Expansion Project - by Donating a Seat for a future new believer!