Having A Reasonable Faith
Reaching the world around us is not so easy. There are worldviews and philosophies that get in the way, not to mention hard hearts and man’s reasoning. A reasonable faith might seem arbitrary and relevant to the ever-shifting world. It is as we reason from God’s word, not from the world’s everchanging viewpoints, that we have can be used to change lives. Having a reasonable faith that relies on God’s word might not seem reasonable to man’s intellect, but God knows what man’s soul truly needs.
Bible Reading: Acts 17-18
There have been many different varied attempts at reaching the world. The seeker-sensitive church, the hip churches with lattes, the multiple different ways of evangelizing, yet there is one method that rises above them all—simply reasoning from God’s word and not adding anything to it. Perhaps this sounds too simple because we can overcomplicate things. But Paul found this method to be tried and true.
Having A Reasonable Faith—Reasoning from God’s Word
Acts 17:2-4
“2 As usual, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and rise from the dead: “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah.” 4 Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, including a large number of God-fearing Greeks, as well as a number of the leading women.”
Having A Reasonable Faith—Will Cause persecution.
Having a reasonable faith will lead to persecution from a world that worships human reasoning.
Acts 17:5-9
“But the Jews became jealous, and they brought together some wicked men from the marketplace, formed a mob, and started a riot in the city. Attacking Jason’s house, they searched for them to bring them out to the public assembly. 6 When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too, 7 and Jason has welcomed them. They are all acting contrary to Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king—Jesus.” 8 The crowd and city officials who heard these things were upset. 9 After taking a security bond from Jason and the others, they released them.”
Having A Reasonable Faith—From God’s Word
Reasoning from God’s word will be foreign to a world that does not have the Bible as its authority.
Acts 17:16-21
16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply distressed when he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with those who worshiped God, as well as in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also debated with him. Some said, “What is this ignorant show-off[c] trying to say?” Others replied, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign deities”—because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.
19 They took him and brought him to the Areopagus, and said, “May we learn about this new teaching you are presenting? 20 Because what you say sounds strange to us, and we want to know what these things mean.” 21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners residing there spent their time on nothing else but telling or hearing something new.”
Having A Reasonable Faith—God’s Word Penetrates the Soul
Nonetheless, it is the word of God that penetrates soul and spirit, not reasoning with mere human thoughts.
Hebrews 4:12-13
“For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 No creature is hidden from him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.”
Isaiah 55:11
“So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
Having A Reasonable Faith—Relying on God’s Word
Paul relied on God’s word and we should, too. If we can convince people of something in their intellect they can be convinced the other way, as well. It is God’s word and God’s principles that are timeless and that change hearts.
Acts 18:4-5
“4 He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and tried to persuade both Jews and Greeks. 5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself to preaching the word[b] and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah.”
Scripture of the Day: Acts 17:26-27
“From one man he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. 27 He did this so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.”
Application
- Reason from God’s word, not from your own intellect.
𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘁 12 𝗽𝗺 𝗘𝗧.
Day #328: Acts 17-18
𝒱𝑒𝓇𝓈𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒟𝒶𝓎: Acts 17:26-27
“From one man he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. 27 He did this so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.”
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