"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 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 17:24-28
When I was a kid growing up in a conservative denomination of Christianity, I remember phrases like "Don't run in the church, this is God's house!" and "Shhhh, you're in the Lord's house." I grew up with a picture in my head of God coming out of the shadows after everyone had left the building and turning up the organ, running through the halls and just enjoying himself (because nothing fun was happening while I was around). Today, our view is much different. We understand that the building does not house the presence of God, but the people do. If there are no people, the building is just a building. We rent out space, set up the drums and guitars, get out the fun stuff for the kids, make the coffee and eat the donuts...oh how the deacons of my youth might cringe.
In our passage today, Paul is preaching to the Greeks at what we refer to as Mars Hill (a philosophical flea market of the day). He notices that in addition to all the gods of the Greeks, there is one altar marked "To the Unknown God." Paul can't let this go, and spends a few minutes explaining the "unknown god." Paul's statement about God not dwelling in a temple made by human hands carries significant weight because of the statement that follows. If he doesn't dwell there, then where does he? Instead, He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. So, instead of being in a building He lives within a people. Now he makes an incredible declaration: from one man He made everyone, and He marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. Wow. From the beginning of time, He has appointed our very time in history and the place where we live. If He appointed where I live, then I didn't. But I picked the school district, the neighborhood, the floor-plan. Oh, but He knew and has been working in us to bring about His appointment of our "land."
Neighborhood Life is founded on the belief that Paul's statement about God is true for you and for me. He appointed me to live in Cedar Landing and you to live in Magnolia Creek, and Bay Colony, and Westover Park, etc.. Why? So that people may seek Him and perhaps find Him because He is not far from any one of us. It's in Him we live and move and have our being.
prayTODAY ::
Pray today for your neighborhood. For the families that you can call by name, pray for them specifically. Ask God to continue to open doors to get to know the people you live next to, and the people you work next to, and the people you play next to. Pray for those who come to our church to catch that vision and do the same, so that some may reach out and seek Him and find Him.
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