“Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.”
Acts 17:25
And so, we come to the last blog for 2019. Our Lord has given us a good year!
As we begin today’s devotion, please let me borrow just a clause from Paul’s sermon on Mar’s Hill in Acts 17. I will try to keep my comments within the context of his address.
“…seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.”
The “he” in verse 25 is, of course, the “God that made the world and all things therein,” and we understand “that He is Lord of heaven and earth,” and that He “dwelleth not in temples made with hands” (v. 24). Let’s look at verse 25.
“Neither is worshipped with men’s hands,”
The word “worshipped” here is the idea of “service,” serving God. It makes sense because He is not contained in “temples made with hands” it is no wonder that He cannot be worshipped or served by man’s hands.
“Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? And where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word” (Isaiah 66:1-2).
My heart goes out to millions of people who genuinely believe that by counting their prayer beads day and night with their hands, they are worshipping the Lord. Or for those who think their hard work, their service with their hands somehow buys God’s special favor. The scriptures are clear, it does not. He says that those things are not the way His people worship or serve Him.
It is our worship and service from our hearts that gets God’s attention.
“As though He needed anything,”
It is laughable to think that the God of heaven needs anything! Least of all me and my paltry service to Him. But here’s the beauty of how our God operates. No, He doesn’t need me, but He wants me! Believers, how blessed we are!
“Seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.”
Here is a message that our lost world needs to hear! The God of heaven has given you physical life, He has provided you with breath and His air to breathe, and everything you are and have comes from Him! Indeed, He is the good God! And He wants to be your Savior!
Dear Lord, thank you for everything you have given to us. We are eternally grateful for your Son, and our salvation through His name.
SPECIAL NOTE: Dear readers, please accept my humble thanks for reading the “Pacific Breezes” devotional blog this past year! I appreciate your prayer and your kind words throughout 2019. Please continue with us as we glory in our Lord together in 2020. Maybe this will be the year He returns for us! But if not, then let’s continue to “occupy till He comes.” If this blog has blessed you, would you share it with your friends? Many of you already do so, and I thank you! My fellow believers, I ask the Lord’s most abundant blessings on you this new year!