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Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.

Prayer for the Morning

Oh Lord, most heavenly Father, Almighty and everlasting God, who has safely brought me to the beginning of this day; I give you thanks for my creation, preservation, and all the blessings of my life. Grant that this day I fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that all my doings, being governed by your will, may be righteous in your sight. Through Christ our Lord, I pray.

Prayer for Grace and Strength

Lord God, I pray that you will fill my heart with the blessing of your Holy Spirit. Grant me this day the strength to be temperate in all things, diligent in my duties, and patient under my afflictions. Direct me in all my ways. Give me grace to be just and upright in all my dealings; quiet and peaceable; full of compassion; and ready to do good to all people, according to my abilities and opportunities. For the sake of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,

Community of Prayer

Heavenly Lord, I know I am not alone saying these prayers or reading your Word this morning, but many people unknown to me, from all stations of life, have joined together in this brief moment of devotion. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be among the community of all who pray in the name of Christ this morning, and remain among us always.

God be with you 'til we meet again.

Proverbs 11:9

Paul's Second Journey

Acts 17:29-34 (ESV)

Paul Addresses the Areopagus [3]

"Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead."

Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, "We will hear you again about this."

So Paul went out from their midst. But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

Notes on the Scripture

If you have been following the past two days, you will know that this passage marks one of the great turning points in world history. Paul is standing in the dead center of Western civilization, the Areopagus in Athens, Greece. This is the place where the world's greatest philosophers have, for hundreds of years, gathered to debate and teach.

In Acts 17:22-28, Paul stood up and began to address the assemblage to teach them that there is but one God, who created earth and humanity. Today, finally, he tells them things that nobody has told them before: their gods do not exist. They are just statues. They are "an image formed by the imagination . . . of man." There is a true God, who has sent a man to save them from death, and as a sign has been raised up from the dead.

The concept is revolutionary. Several listeners are actually converted, and a number of others are interested in hearing more. Some openly laugh at him, and most probably don't pay close attention and simply dismiss him. But the turning point has been reached. The Gospel has been revealed, openly and forcefully, to the mainstream citizenry of the Roman Empire.

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