“God’s Offspring”

Acts 17:23-34 

28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’  29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.” 32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.

A River Runs Through It 

The movie, A River Runs Through It is a true story about two boys growing up with their father, a Presbyterian minister.

One of them became studious and the other became rebellious.

Both of them loved fly fishing for trout and it impacted their lives.

An article was published in July 2000 from recollections of people who knew about both brothers. The film, “A River Runs Through It” provides a realization that children of ministers or even faithful Christians are not exempted from rebellious attitudes.

The Bible is a record of rebellious and faithful attitudes of God’s people. However, God’s children act and think according to their spiritual maturity.

1.  Think

28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’  

The way believers’ think or consider things may reflect spiritual level of maturity. Others notice Christians not acting like Christian; they could be baby Christians.

The gift of eternal life we have received from God has commenced or started to take effect in our life by the time we put our trust in Jesus as our Saviour. God’s children have eternal life but have different progression in spiritual growth. Spiritual life is best illustrated in our physical maturity; as we grow mature, we act, think, and decide as mature people. Obedience to God is spiritual maturity.

29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

Hope of living with our Saviour in His heaven is inspired by Christ’s Spirit in us. Believing that Jesus is the Creator of all things is the work of the Seal of Salvation.

In Colossians 1:6… For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

The Lord Jesus is main reason all things, including us, have been created. That’s the Master Plan of God; He gave us the right to become God’s children when we believe and receive Him as Lord and Saviour for Christ’s purposes.

We do have personal dreams, wishes, or plans but as God’s children, we need to consider things to bring glory to our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ Jesus will bring His prepared reward. Is our lifestyle—our actions, thoughts, words, and decisions – worthy to be rewarded or wasted?

The progress of our spiritual growth is best displayed with our enthusiasm of taking ministry responsibility; do you wait for command or do you have initiative.

Young Family

A pastor visited a family and observed how the children obeyed their father.

When their father said, “Children, prepare the table,” without repeating his instruction, the children stopped playing. One child placed table cloth, the bigger child prepared the plates, and youngest arranged the forks and spoons. It was a wonderful sight – the children were very cooperative.

Were the children given a personal choice what they should prepare? Did their parents tell them what responsibility each child should take?

The bigger child prepared the fragile and heavier plate, not spoon or forks. The youngest was not allowed to take care of the fragile and heavier plates. He will be allowed when he grows stronger but not at his age or stature.

As God’s children in a church family, we also expect that kind of cooperation. We need to grow (F.A.T.) faithful, available, and teachable children of God. But, who should decide and designate responsibilities for God’s children to take?

Do you believe that everything we do, think, or decide, will earn appropriate rewards unless it will be wasted, do you trust that?

2.  Trust

32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.

Many philosophers, who heard what Paul has declared, sneered and ignored the message of resurrection because it was not their idea. Have you met inflexible people who ignore your bright idea because it’s not their idea?

They ignored the message of resurrection because they cannot conceptualize it. They thought that Paul was out of his mind; other’s thought he was just joking. But those who believe the message of Paul wanted to know more about it.

Paul’s experiences in Athens should inspire us when sharing the gospel. Some people would believe eventually. We can explain the gospel clearly but there will always be people who would not believe. God has perfect and right timing.

God’s Timing

A family has been attending church but the wife was hesitant to be baptized. The husband waited patiently for her to decide willingly to be baptized. She had many interesting questions; the pastor answered them appropriately. After a series of Bible study, both husband and wife decided to be baptized. The gospel seed planted in her heart was watered and cultivated while attending church and Bible studies. In God’s perfect and right time, she grew spiritually.

It is our part is to plant and water the gospel seed but God makes it grow. Spiritual maturity is individual experience. Baby Christians do not act like mature Christians; their Christian lifestyle reveals the progress of their spiritual maturity.

When people don’t listen, their spiritual capacity might still be very young. Baby Christians are assured of eternal life but their maturity is in progress. So when Christians contradict or ignore things that are useful for their spiritual growth, they are like children ignoring or neglecting their vitamins.

As we grow mature spiritually, we will realize that it is for our spiritual betterment to maximize the effect of eternal life in our life. Testifying about our personal experience with Christ is an instantaneous effect of that experience of spiritual growth. The gospel seed was planted in our hearts when we heard the good news, the gospel seed is watered and cultivated each time we hear the word of God. In His perfect time, God makes it grow; when it grows, we obey with enthusiasm.

When we start obeying the Lord with cheerful heart, not reluctantly or without compulsion, it is when eternal life is making fruitful effect in us. On Judgment Day, God will rewards obedience, may it be planting or cultivating.

In 1 Corinthians 3:7-8…So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 

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