Word for the Week...AUGUST 22-28/2005

(v.16)"Now while Paul waited for them at Athens,his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to Idolatry.(v.17) Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and weith the devout persons,and in the market daily with them that met with him.(v.18) Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him, and some said what will this babbler say?other some he seemeth to be a setter forth odf strange gods:because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.(v.19) And they took him and brought him unto Areopagus saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest is?(v.20) For thou bringest sertain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. (v.21) for all the Athenians and strangers which were therespent there time in nothing else , but either to tell or to hear some new thing. (v.22)Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars hill and said, ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious.(v.23) For as I passed by and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this Inscription,TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.Whom therefore ye Ignorantly worship, Him declare I unto you." There are cities all over this world wholly given to Idolatry, as there were in Paul's day. What is an Idol? Anything that takes the place of God in our lives! Now there are obvious things, such as achohol and drug abuse;amongst numerous addictions, for example. But what about T.V.? Technological 'gizmos'?, sports?, science and the arts? The pusuit of all these things is fine, as long as they remain within the context of a life centred upon The Lord, giving Glory to Him. But when God is 'crowded out by all the 'legitimate' pursuits of life, the question is...are we really folowing Jesus, or not? Who were these Epicurians and Stoics?They were Philosophers. The former, were thosewho believed that the chief end of life was pleasure,since 'the gods had no interest in men!They held that life was to be lived free from pain, trouble or fear, especially the fear of death...The latter,believed that God was the world's soul,which indwelt all things,and that the happy life was lived in accordance with nature.Since God was in all men,allmen were brothers.Many Stoics were men of high moral principle.What neither of these knew was the fact of Sin,falling short of God's Standard as seen in The person and work of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ...Do you need an encounter with The Lord?your life will never be the same!You can say this prayer and know eternal life today..."Lord Jesus I accept that I am a sinner.I have done those things I ought not to have done in thought word and deed.Thankyou for dying on the Cross for me.I ask you to come into my life and be my Saviour and Lord.I will followyou from this time on,until I get to Heaven to be with you forever.Amen." If you have said this prayer and meant it,we woould like to hear from you. See 'How to contact us' on the website.May The Lord bless you.