There are so many parallels between those in ancient Athens and our postmodern society. It seems like a common belief was that everybody’s right (Acts 17:16,21)! I mean who are we to say what’s right and what’s wrong?
Dale Pollard
There are so many parallels between those in ancient Athens and our postmodern society. It seems like a common belief was that everybody’s right (Acts 17:16,21)! I mean who are we to say what’s right and what’s wrong? It was partially with that mindset that the city was full of idols. Paul, moved in spirit, tells them that not everybody’s right.
The meat of his message is found in v. 22-31.
The heart of it is found in 27b:
“God is not far from each one of us.”
No matter how confused and lost a person might feel, no matter what kind of sinful past or present may be weighing on the mind of a person, and no matter how distant God may seem— He is never far from each one of us.
It’s because of the honest response of some of those willing to hear and believe (v.34) that we’re reminded to preach Jesus to everybody. Even if it might look like God is outnumbered, preach Jesus anyway.
James 2:18-19 reads, “But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!”
Until you have works, you cannot show that you have faith. Any verbal attempt is futile if your life doesn’t reflect your belief in God. The only real way to show your faith is to do something. If you never told someone that you were a Christian, could they tell by your actions? The question isn’t, how many works do I need to do to have eternal life, it is, how much disobedience can I have in my life and still call Jesus my master?
We aren’t working toward our reward and getting paid back like it’s a job; this faith motivates us to obey our master. James says, “show me a faith without works.” You can’t. In verse 19, he says, “you believe that God is one, that is good.” That is the Jewish Shema, and it is a great step in the right direction but it won’t save you if that’s all you have. Even demons believe. Satan ain’t an atheist! He believes in God more than most people do! It’s great that you believe in God, but so do many others who are filled with evil.
If all you need is belief, why isn’t Satan saved? Why are the demons condemned? They believe in God! But their actions are contrary to their belief. Demons have faith! But it is an imperfect faith because it is not coupled with obedience. Demons believe and “TREMBLE!”
This is a step above dead faith. A demonic faith is comprised of intellect and emotion. Belief, and fear. But can this kind of faith save? No! Noah could have believed God and even been afraid of the coming punishment, but if he never built the ark would he have been saved?
Saving faith demands a change in your life; it demands action. Dead faith is no works. Demonic faith is belief and emotion, but still no obedience, and God expects our faith to change our very being. He wants our lives to reflect the trust we have in Him. That can only be seen through action.
Don’t carry burdens that aren’t yours (Proverbs 3.5-6)
Remember the extraordinary times that God has carved out a path where there was no path before (Isaiah 43.16-19)
Don’t forget, God can see what you can’t see (Proverbs 16.9)
Even if you stumble, God won’t let you stay down (Psalm 37.23-24)
God’s vision is bigger and better than yours (Jeremiah 33.3)
God hasn’t forgotten about you (Proverbs 20.24)
Remember to be very specific when praying to God (2 Samuel 5.19)
Always be sure your will is His will (James 4.15)
If you’re struggling with the anxieties that can come from making life’s difficult decisions, read these verses. Perhaps they will give you some insight that help you to answer that crucial question,
“How should I be praying about this?”
Give it to God and rest up!
“When you lie down you will not be afraid, when you lie down your sleep will be sweet.”
There are some people with “trust issues.” They are stuck in a negative frame of mind, believing the worst in others with little expectation that they will improve. They may even castigate anyone who would encourage you to put faith in people. Certainly, our greatest faith must always be in God. He never fails, forsakes, or leaves us (Heb. 13:5-6), but people invariably do those things. We cannot put more faith in people than God, listening to and following them when they contradict His will. That’s a false, wrong extreme, but so also is a cynicism that fundamentally, inherently distrusts people to do the right thing. This does not mean that there are people in our lives who do not struggle with sin because we all do (Rom. 3:23).
Let me encourage you to have faith in God’s people. Why?
Jesus did. He selected twelve men, salty fishermen, shady tax collectors, strident nationalists, and selfish materialists. While the latter let Him down, the other eleven grew and accomplished much. Jesus entrusted His mission to them (Mat. 28:18-20), having faith that they would accomplish it. But, Jesus also had faith in others—the woman at the well, the woman caught in adultery, Zaccheus, Bartimaeus, Nicodemus, and so many others. Some He put faith in failed Him and even left Him, but that did not ever stop Him from investing that faith in others. Do you remember what He said to Peter after He had failed? “I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32; emph. mine). That was faith in Peter!
It empowers others. When somebody expresses faith in your ability to accomplish something, how do you respond? When you are given responsibility with the explicit or tacit understanding that the giver believes in you, don’t you give it your all to live up to that trust? 2 Timothy 2:2 seems to imply this reaction is a natural consequence of being entrusted with something.
People live up (or down) to our expectations. Have you ever had someone in your life who handled you this way: “You’re no good!”; “You’ll never amount to anything!”; “You’re hopeless!”? Maybe they don’t say it, but they convey it. Preachers and teachers communicate the word through such a pessimistic prism. Leaders convey it in ways both spoken and unspoken. Love “believes all things, hopes all things” (1 Cor. 13:7).
It brightens life. Would you like to maintain a PMA (possible mental attitude)? Never lose the ability to believe in others! A glass half full approach is necessary to retaining an optimistic, hopeful way of life. I’m not saying to be delusional, but you can improve your own quality of life with a fundamental belief that most people, when they know what’s right, want to do what’s right.
It is biblical. Paul had confidence in Philemon’s obedience (Phile. 1:21). He had confidence that Corinth would do the right thing (2 Cor. 2:3). He had confidence in Galatia’s doctrinal resilience (Gal. 5:10). He had confidence in Thessalonica’s continued faithfulness (2 Th. 3:4). What an example, and oh how we should imitate him in this!
Teresa of Calcutta is often associated with certain verses found on the wall of her children’s home, even credited for authoring it. Kent Keith is the likely author. In the composition, “Do It Anyway” (aka “The Paradoxical Commandments”), he notes that people will criticize and be petty. He encourages doing good, loving, and serving anyway. You can choose how you will spend your life, expecting the best or worst of others. May I urge you to have the most faith in God, but leave room for faith in people—especially God’s people! You will not regret it.
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