A Daily Devotional with Pastor Doug Crouse July 8, 2018 One Way Scripture Reading – Acts 17:22b - 23 (NLT)"Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: 'To an Unknown God.' This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I'm telling you about." 

It really is a marvel to me how the great Apostle Paul approached each and every situation differently. Here we can see that in his modus operandi of becoming all things to all men, he took time to find places of connectivity to these (as some people may call them), 'sinners, lost, pagan, hell-bound'.... people in order to make the gospel something that could relate to them.

Certainly as you look at how he said that they already were worshipping this God, you understand that he was looking to the Holy Spirit to give him an audience, and then do what only the Spirit can do, open the hearts, ears and eyes of his listeners to respond to the gospel message in believing faith.

Certainly living in what has been called a post-Christian culture, where most people have heard the name of Jesus, and are very or at least somewhat familiar with the message of His birth, death and resurrection - we can take a lesson from Paul. For while there is only, 'One Way' to discover eternal life - that of being born again by the Spirit of God, there are many ways that we can look, and pray to find places of commonality in order to share the gospel of His grace.

In a society of many belief systems and religions even atheism or agnosticism, we need more than ever for the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in what to do and say in order to see Jesus discovered by more and more people. In fact - the only thing the Father is waiting for in order for the Son to return is that this Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in every nation – and when the full number of the Gentiles come to salvation, then He will come to take us home.   

Prayer Father I come to You once again through Jesus the Son, the only way to eternal salvation. Help me and help us in the church I pray to share this message of grace. Holy Spirit fill us, and may this gospel go throughout the world in Your power I pray in Jesus precious name. 

Memory Verse:  John 14:6 NLT "Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”