Sunday, September 28, 1997 In Your Absence:
In this week's lesson, which came from Acts 17:16-19, 22-28, and 30-34, we learned about the importance of telling others about Christ, especially about telling those who have no interest in or even knowledge of their need. In a world such as ours, where people must make a living and still be able to take their shot at having it all, trying to set aside some time to tell others about the Lord can be very difficult. When we do seem to find some time, then the problem often becomes that of finding the right words to say. All of us would probably like to do better in the matter of witnessing, but without question, trying to get all of the pieces in place for this part of our walk is not easy. Many times, in addition to the problems with time and with what to say, we are also intimidated because people, more educated and sophisticated than we, are saying that there is a better way to fulfillment in this life and everlasting life in the next than by placing our trust in a slain Savior. In this week's lesson, we learned that the Apostle Paul had to deal with these same kinds of issues while in Athens, yet we also learned that he was able to step around the obstacles and still press on for Christ.
Upon entering Athens, he walked the streets and observed the many idols which had been erected. The Quarterly says that he became angry and infuriated by what he saw. These very scholarly people had not been worshipping the one and only God, plus they were not trusting in the one and only Savior. In my opinion, his anger, and probably hurt, were a direct result of Matthew 22:37. He did not hate these people, but his expression of distress was because he did possess a pure love for our heavenly Father. He understood what it means to love the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul, and he was distressed to be among people who did not share that love. He was even more hurt and distressed to be among people who, despite their worldly intelligence, did not seem to even care that they had turned from Christ. How Paul dealt with this situation is important because his actions have shown us how we can deal with the same circumstances in our own world. He talked to them about Jesus. He tried to share with them the Gospel of Jesus, the Christ, and by so doing, he was fulfilling the Second Great Commandment, found in Matthew 22:39, which is that of loving others as ourselves.
In my opinion, it is important to realize that Paul did not try to share Christ with these people because he wanted to be a very good religious person. When he spoke to them, he was not concerned about gaining rewards, about being a good church member, or even about being a good Christian. For him, telling them about Christ was an expression of his mature love, both for Christ and also for them. Telling others about the Lord is a very good way to demonstrate our understanding of the First and Second Great Commandments (see Matthew 22:37-39). The people to whom he was speaking were very intelligent. In worldly terms, some of them may have been even more intelligent than he, yet he did not let their intelligence keep him from expressing his perfect love for them. He knew his theological positions. But more importantly, he knew that he had what they needed, a relationship with the Creator of the Universe and the only true Savior, and he knew that he wanted them to know Him, too. The passage says that some believed, some sneered, and some became curious. One of the important conclusions of this lesson was that we are not called to be successful. We are only called to go. Our focus should be on loving the Lord with all our heart, mind, and soul, on loving our neighbors as ourselves, and then on letting the Holy Spirit use us to do His perfect work. When we learn to approach our witnessing to others as an act of love rather than one of obligation, then we will probably find that we have more time to do so and that we are less bothered about what to say. In the coming week, ask the Holy Spirit to show you someone who needs your Christ-like love and then let the Holy Spirit use you as His representative. In this world of hectic lifestyles, people need to hear about Christ, and as Christians, we need to be telling them.
Tom of Spotswood"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
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