Enough about You, Let's Talk about Me

PASSAGE OF THE DAY:
Acts 17 (click the link)


KEY VERSE:
"God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.'" (Acts 17:27-28a, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
If there is any universal truth we all understand, it’s that we all want to be right.  Our well thought out, intelligent, incisive, morally grounded, commonly respected and highly valued opinion is always the reference point for our spouse’s behavior, our company’s actions and our country’s priorities.  In the world that wraps around us, our thoughts, opinions and choices rule the day.  The only real confusion in life is why everyone doesn’t listen to us. “If only…” is our mantra.

In Acts, chapter 17 we see Paul engaging three very different cultures, each with their own distinctives, biases, beliefs, philosophies, norms and traditions.  One culture vigorously rejects his message, one coyly dismisses it and the third receives it with great eagerness. In the culture of your mind, which one are you?

The battle for our heart begins in our mind.  How we view truth transforms us.  Because Christ is the Truth, how we view Him transforms us… or not.  Understand that the deceptions of our mortal enemy in this “at all costs” battle have proliferated and are wide-spread to the point they are almost undetectable, even in the church.  The lie has become the truth and the truth the lie.  Why?  Because if we are going to protect anything it is us.  In the end the prevailing argument is mine.  Truth is what I say it is, what I’ve invested my life in.  Surrender is not an option.  So what is your reference point?  What are you willing to defend with your life?

Each of these cultures was heavily invested in their own point of view.  In Thessalonica, the prevailing response to Paul’s message of the risen Messiah (Christ) was one of jealousy and hostility—a jealousy rising out of self-righteous indignation fueled by fear and insecurity.  They had bet their eternity on inscrutably following the Law and now Paul is telling them that all bets are off.  Eternal life is found only in the One Who fulfilled the law and is now resurrected to prove it.  He is The Way.  Who or what way are you invested in?

The Athenians’ primary response was one of arrogance.  Arrogance is always self-serving and born out of ignorance. The Athenians' highest value was their intellect and their ability to ponder complex issues of life and the cosmos.  “As a man thinketh, so he is.”  “(They) spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the newest ideas” (17:21).  Paul pointed out the cleverness of that deception.  Are you sure you know who you know?  And has that truth set you free?  Are you fully engaged in The Truth or are you just thinking about it?

In Berea, Paul found a people whose primary response was one of eagerness.  They are described as a people of "noble character."  Noble being defined as: honorable, a loftiness of character or spirit that scorns petty, mean, base or dishonorable.  In the Greek it can infer: to arise, to come into being, well done.  Noble or noble-minded can even refer back to God, the Messiah.  In their spirit, the Bereans, because of their character, where highly receptive to the Messiah.  Their devotion to the scriptures and the sanctity of God’s promises, made them eager to confirm the truth of what Paul was revealing to them.  The Truth brought them to life and The Life came alive in them.  Are you fully alive?

It is interesting to note that in the case of the first two cultures, the opposition came from within because they embraced the lie and rejected the truth.  In the Bereans’ case the opposition came from without because they had embraced the truth and rejected the lie.  The opposition is coming, whether from within or without.  How will you respond?  Do you know what you believe?  By grace you have been saved through faith… it’s not of yourself.  It’s not about you.  It’s about Christ in you, the hope of glory.  Get over yourself.

We’ve got a battle to fight!


POINT OF ACTION:
Here’s the point: who do you say Christ is?  That’s the question before all of mankind.  The answer to that question will drive your life.  So what’s next? “In Him we live and move and have our being.”


PRAYER:
Lord, You are the creator of the universe, the Great I AM.  You alone can soften our hard hearts, quiet our rebellion, capture our imaginations and ignite a fire deep down in our soul that burns for You.  We want to live and move and have our being in You.  We have no purpose, no plan, apart from You.  You are our plan. You are our purpose.  To live is Christ!


WHO AM I?
Hi, I’m Tom Fisk.  I’m a slow learner with whom God has been extremely patient.  Sometimes it feels like I’m living my life backwards.  I had much success early on and now I’m checking and bagging at HEB.  Maybe I’ll go back to school!  The reality of it is that now I’m experiencing God’s definition of success.  I’m married to the love of my life, Shirley, who can tell you that she has not always felt that way.  I told you I was a slow learner.  I’m just now learning to love God who in turn loves her through me.  We have three daughters who have grown up to be remarkable young women.  I’m not sure how that happened.  Well, I do, but it had little to do with me.  We’re excited that the Creator of the Universe wants to do a good work in and through us.