FRIDAY February 9, 2024
What Is Your Concept of God?
“My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know. They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers. To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?”
Acts 26:4-8
Paul took King Agrippa back to the beginning of his youth, from a life that was immersed in the teachings of Jewish Law, to attaining the position as a Pharisee. He was among the council––a part of the Sanhedrin. He was fully known by his accusers, because he lived among them as one of them.
Paul preached a message about the hope of the coming Messiah. Israel knew that the Scriptures were looking for their Messiah. It happened! Yet the Jews did not recognize Him. They completely missed Him!
You see, Paul was doing nothing wrong; he was only proclaiming the hope and expectation of the Jews found in their writings. Jesus had come, and His coming, His death, and Resurrection had aligned with everything written in the Scriptures. Everything was spoken by their nation’s fathers and the Prophets––Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, and the Psalms.
Paul shared with his Jewish brethren the hope that can only be found in the Messiah––Jesus Christ––who had risen from the dead. He shared a hope that could only be found in Jesus Christ. He asked a fitting question, “Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?”
Did you notice his speech? He was trying to win the King over to the Lord––to bring him to a place of conversion. He wanted to know, “What is the King’s concept of God?” Paul’s concept was that God was sovereign.
That is a very good question to put before people. “What is your concept of God? Is he a dead God or a living God?” Often you can figure out people’s concepts of God by the way they live their lives.
The way you view God will eventually show up in the way you live your life.
~Charles Spurgeon~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
