[Paul speaking]
The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ “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. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 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.

–Parallel verses:
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭12‬-‭15‬
[Said of the Lord Almighty]
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? Who can fathom the Spirit of the Lord, or instruct the Lord as his counselor? Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge, or showed him the path of understanding? Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.

When we truly understand that we are not performing for God, nor does he need us to accomplish his will, we can humbly accept that he loves us and accepts us as we are and wants the best for us.

He simply wants us to seek after him — to model our heart, mind, motives, and actions after his good ways. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭33‬)

Our God is powerful, and to rise up against him is foolishness, as he will justly judge in the end. “But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭4‬:‭29‬)

Paul points out that he is the creator and sustainer of life. And in him, we have life. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭10‬, Jesus speaking)

So if we want a fulfilling life, a life lived to the full measure of the intention of our Creator, God, we must remain in Jesus, seek after him, and give him our full devotion.

What a powerful message to these Greek philosophers back then and a powerful message to us today. Who am I living for? Who holds my allegiance?

Lord, thank you for this challenging message from Paul for me today. Take over my life in a bigger way. Cleanse and heal me and refine the goodness you have planted in my heart, I pray. I want to be more like you!