Luke the beloved physician shared how “Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, You men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore you ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwells not in temples made with hands. Neither is worshiped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he gives to all life, and breath, and all things. And has made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation. That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us. For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device”, and in chapter seventeen and verse thirty of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul told the philosophers, “the times of this ignorance God winked at” where we read:
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men every where to repent:
The verse begins, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at;” Luke began with the words, “and the times” which means “and the period or interval of time” “of this ignorance” or “pertaining to the lack of knowledge and moral blindness to divine things” “God winked at” which means “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit overlooked, took no notice of and did not attend to the ignorance of divine things”. Luke shared how “Paul” told the “philosophers at Athens” how “God” for a certain period of time did not address or attend to the “lack of knowledge of divine things” within people who were unaware of Him.
The verse goes on to say, “but now commands all men every where to repent:” Luke continued with the words, “but now commands all men” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover at this time and moment God orders, charges, declares and announces to each, every, the whole and every person both male and female” “every where” which means “in every place or location” “to repent” or “to change their minds, heartily to amend with abhorrence their past sins”. Luke shared how “Paul” told the “philosophers” that God “orders and charges” every person in every location to “turn from their sins and whole heartily to amend with abhorrence their wicked ways”.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” extended the understanding of God toward people who were “unaware” of Him. God wants a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and when they “turn from their wicked ways”, “repent”, and give their lives to Him, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life. God's “command” is to “repent” because He loves people enough to lead them to His “salvation” that He may cleanse them from their sins and allow them to forever live with Him.
Next time Luke shares how God has, “appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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