"Thy Word Have I Hid In Mine Heart..." Psalm 119 : 11

We can preach Christ to sinners if we cannot preach sinners to Christ.

 

The Christian need never expect the world to applaud his efforts, even when he is engaged in so lofty an occupation as preaching the gospel of Christ. Paul has time on his hands in while Athens waiting for Silas and Timothy to join him. As he looks upon that ancient city with its grand architecture, illustrious history, and philosophical people, his heart is stirred within his breast, because he sees Athens wholly given over to idolatry.

Rather than idle away the time, Paul begins to preach Jesus, first in the synagogue with the devout Jews, and then daily in the market. That market, as well as being a shopping centre, is a meeting place of philosophical minds where the Epicureans, Stoics, and their followers argue and debate over points of learning. Many and heated are the discussions as these proud intellectuals vie for the attention of the milling throng.

Into this motley crowd steps Paul. His message is simple: Jesus Christ and His resurrection. As he preaches the person of Christ and people begin to listen, the proud philosophers wonder, "What will this babbler say?" Their expression shows the utter contempt they have for God's faithful and fearless servant. Babbler means literally a "seed picker"; Paul is derided as one who picks like a bird at the crumbs of human philosophy.

But why should Paul concern himself about what mere, miserable, mortal men may say of him? Paul has the everlasting gospel of Christ that is able to make men wise unto salvation and, if "it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe," why should he or any other Christian fear what men will say to him, or of him?

Daily Devotions are from the book "Footprints of Faith". Copyright Let the Bible Speak 1989.