Acts 17:23-29
Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: 24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'
Joel,
ReplyDeleteThis is really good stuff. You know, what always strikes me when I read one of the few "sermons" in the NT is their length.
Notice that they don't last 45 minutes and they don't have 3 (or more) alliterated points and accompanying sub points.
Does the "nor is He worshipped with men's hands" not only mean works but also the lifting of ones hands in worship?
He says that He is worshipped in Spirit and Truth. He doesn't say that He is worshipped in Hymns and the lifting of hands.
John,
ReplyDeleteGreat observations. I think most of the Christian life is a matter of daily living and conversations, rather than long sermons with lots of points and subpoints, etc.
I just looked up the Greek word that is translated 'worship' here, because I've heard that it's also translated as "serve" in other translations.
What I came up with is: "to wait upon menially," "to adore (God)," or "to heal or restore to health."
So I think you're right, and I think this can include all kinds of things, from 'praise and worhip' to 'serving God' out of our flesh. Rather, all of this (worshiping in Spirit and Truth, serving God, etc) is done by the work of the Holy Spirit in and through us, not through our own efforts. I would say it's true that often these things are expressed through the actions of our bodies, and I wouldn't say the lifting of hands is a bad thing, but true worship and service begins inwardly.
I do think that a lot of praise and worship, and hymn singing, is mostly done because the people like it. That's my observation anyway, although I can't see the hearts of people like God does so it's just an opinion. :)
Love this:
ReplyDelete"... and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and have our being"
Such purpose and intention with His timing! It's not an accident that I'm here... now... at this time in history. If I could only see thru His eyes, to really know what on earth I'm here for. But, I am groping for and finding Him, and realizing more and more of what it means to be "IN Him."
Free Spirit,
ReplyDeleteYou said, "it's not an accident that I'm here... now... at this time in history..." Isn't that absolutely mind-blowingly amazing?! Sometimes it's hard to see just exactly what our life here is all about, but it's not by accident and in fact it's all part of a masterpiece of a plan that is so great and wonderful that we can't even comprehend it!