The Tourist

A long time a go a guy who was not your average tourist was looking around Athens Greece.

He was taking in the sights, thinking and praying as he went.

Paul was that sort of guy.
Mindful of where he was in the world and always it seems looking to discover why God had him in any and every situation.

In the book of Acts it says he was introduced to a certain group of people. Made up my of locals and a select/curious bunch of foreigners, who used to meet and hash out all the latest ideas in the world. They had heard of this 'tourist' having a passionate discussion about his beliefs and it intrigued them. It met their vision of looking into new ideas - so he was brought to be their TEDx speaker for the day.

What Paul did was special.

He didn't just tell them what he thought he knew.

He tried to frame his faith around what they already understood. Relating it in some way to their culture and beliefs, even gaps in their beliefs.

The upshot is that God changed the lives of a number of those listening that day!

Something that has always struck me about this account is how Paul made something simple out something so marvellous. To a group always on the lookout for the latest and greatest in the world, he presented Jesus as the original and the best for them.

In our culture we value things like those Athenians.

We value new and inivation very highly. We can't want for updates to technology.

We value new discovery over tradition.
Even with our faith - many are desperately looking for new ideas relating to it. New expressions and dimensions. New teaching. New songs. New denominations...

New ideas are fantastic. I love discovery based on curiosity and need.

At the same time I never want the desire for 'new' to outweigh my simple desire for Him!

Paul recognised that for these people that they had enough new ideas to sink a ship.

He knew that the one and true thing they needed was a relationship with the God of the Unvierse.

Can I encourage you this week to maybe be a little more simple about your life and faith?

Put aside the distraction of always chasing after the new and go after the best.

Let the simplicity of the love of God be your goal.
Be content with that.
I know that Jesus is more than enough for me!

Something to think about...