Acts 17:30

Ok, last post. It's 1 am and I'm real tired, but I wanted to write this down before I forget tomorrow morning. 

Sunday I was in the Senior men's core seminar (Sunday school). Yes, I know, I'm not a senior man. I don't care. I really enjoy that core seminar. It's more of an inductive Bible study with a smaller group. I really get a lot out of it whenever I go. 

Last Sunday, we were talking about the church of Thessalonica. Before he got into the devotional, he gave the context of the beginning of the church which is found in Acts. As he was reading, my eyes were wandering around the page (I was paying attention, I was just reading ahead) and I read over Acts 17:30. I wrote it on my hand so I wouldn't forget to go back to it later on.

Here is what it says: The times of ignorance God overlooked but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 

Huh. I thought the beginning of the verse was kinda different. The times of ignorance God overlooked. Well, what ARE the times of ignorance, and why did God over look them?

I decided to do a little research. 

Ignorance is considered foolishness. Christians are often foolish in the worlds eyes. Or maybe perhaps this ignorance is a sin. A sin of the rejection of the Gospel. A sin of idolatry. Isarealites are a good example of ignorance as they didn't want to listen to the promises God had made with them. Ignorance is also a stupidity. They were dumb to the fact that Jesus Christ was the Messiah...or they didn't want to listen. 

God overlooked- Well, what does THIS mean? Does it mean that God just turned the other cheek when they were sinning? Of course not. That wouldn't be in agreement with his character. Does it mean that those who have not heard of the Good news he will overlook them because they are ignorant of it? No, because that's not what Romans 1 tells us that they are without excuse. Matthew Henry tells us that God did not give them an earnest call to repent. He let them alone. It seems like God is giving up on them here, doesn't it? Well, no, actually, he's not. He is actually patient with them. He was long-suffering with them which is in perfect harmony with his sovereign grace character. 

Though we have many idols and are sinner, God still has patience with us. This verse tells us of yet another example of how gracious and patient God is with us though we are ignorant lost sheep wandering around for a shephard. 

I think this compliments the verse, "He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." That is why there is such an earnest plea in the last part of the verse that call us to repentance.

I hope you see the loving, gentle, patience God has with us. He is free and is right to cause judgement on us all right now, but because he loves us he is holding back and overlooking with patience so that we may hear and Good news and repent and believe in it.

♥