Free access to God
So he called them all together with others whose work was like theirs and said to them, ‘Men, you know that our prosperity comes from this work. Now, you can see and hear for yourselves what this fellow Paul is doing. He says that handmade gods are not gods at all, and he has succeeded in convincing many people, both here in Ephesus and in nearly the whole province of Asia.’ (verses 25, 26)
Read Acts 19:21-41
In Paul’s time, people purchased little statues and idols to obtain access to their chosen god. The more expensive the item, the more your god would be pleased with you and grant you your requests. You may think this superstitious nonsense, but have you considered how much we still do the same? Unless we have the right car, the right house, the right job, we are not seen as being successful or being blessed by our ‘consumer gods’.
But imagine someone announcing access to a gracious and loving God, free of charge. This would upset anyone who makes a living from our greed and our need for signs of success. You don’t need expensive statues to appeal to God, but faith in his promises. You don’t need to pay for entry into his temple, but can freely come and sit among fellow believers to listen to how God freely blesses you. What more do you need?
Dear heavenly Father, forgive me for wanting more, yet one more thing I ask: grant me a heart that believes your promises. Amen.
by Stuart Kleinig, in ‘Guidance for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2002)
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