Acts 17:23For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship - and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.
In his fascinating book, Eternity in Their Hearts, Don Richardson documents ample and world-wide examples of cultures never exposed to Christianity whose religious beliefs retained the idea of a Supreme God. When missionaries arrived in these regions and tapped into the keys of a culture, searching for grains of truth and affirming them, their presentation of the Gospel as the missing link in the lives of these peoples was widely and enthusiastically received. Surprisingly, or maybe not, Richardson states, ". . . more than 90 percent of this world's folk religions acknowledge at least the existence of God. Some even anticipate His redeeming concern for mankind."
How great is our God! He has planted His image and our longing for Him in the hearts and minds of His children everywhere. He wants all of us to know the truth of His Gospel and His promise of salvation. Paul recognized in the Greeks' monument to their unknown god that grain of truth which, when sowed in their hearts, would yield a bounteous harvest. He affirmed their belief and filled the gaps with the rest of the glorious story. Just as the missionaries in Richardson's book experienced astounding success, Paul, too, gained many converts that day in Athens. Before all was said and done, he would add countless more to the fold.
Take a moment today to pray for the thousands of missionaries throughout the world who have dedicated their lives to bringing the Gospel to those in need of salvation. Pray for a plentiful harvest!
Readings
Psalms 75, 76 or 23, 27
2 Samuel 5:22-6:11
Acts 17:16-34
Mark 8:1-10
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