Devotional Series Jun 22-25
This Devotional Series is based on a message delivered on June 21, 2026, and can be found at: https://www.kallamgrove.org/messages/is-there-reason-to-believe-god-exists/
Every Aspect of Life Itself is a Gift From God
Acts 17:25-26
For he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place.
Paul is speaking to a city filled with temples, idols, and competing ideas about God. Yet he begins with something every person has in common. Life itself is a gift from God. Every breath we take, every sunrise we enjoy, every moment we live exists because God sustains us. That truth is easy to overlook because God’s gifts are so constant. We tend to notice blessings when they arrive unexpectedly, but we rarely stop to consider the ordinary gifts that surround us every day. The beating of our heart, the air in our lungs, the relationships we enjoy, and the opportunities before us all come from the hand of a generous Creator.
Paul also reminds his audience that God has determined the times and places in which people live. None of us are accidents of history. God has placed each of us in a particular family, community, and season of life. We may not always understand why, but we can trust that His purposes are wise. This means that our current circumstances are not random. The God who gives us life has also placed us where we are for a reason. The workplace where you spend your days, the neighborhood where you live, the church where you worship, and the people you encounter are all part of God’s providential design.
Rather than wishing we were somewhere else or living in a different time, we can ask how God wants to use us right where He has placed us. The God who gave us life has also given us a mission.
Reflection Question: How might your perspective change if you viewed your current season of life as part of God’s intentional plan?
Prayer: Father, help me trust Your purpose for my life and faithfully serve You where You have placed me.
Paul declares something revolutionary
Acts 17:24-25
The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
The people of Athens were surrounded by magnificent temples. Everywhere they looked were reminders of humanity’s attempts to honor the gods. Yet Paul declares something revolutionary. The true God cannot be contained by buildings, and He does not depend on human beings for His existence. This is a comforting truth because it reminds us that God is completely self-sufficient. He is not weak. He is not dependent. He does not need us to sustain Him. Instead, we depend entirely upon Him.
Sometimes our relationship with God can become transactional. We begin to think that God loves us because of what we do for Him. We measure our standing before Him by our performance, our service, or our spiritual accomplishments. Paul’s words correct that misunderstanding. God does not need anything from us. His love is not earned by our usefulness. He loved us before we ever served Him. He pursued us while we were still sinners.
Ironically, understanding that God does not need us frees us to serve Him more joyfully. We no longer serve to gain His approval. We serve because we already have it through Christ. Our obedience becomes an expression of gratitude rather than an attempt to earn favor.
The gospel begins with a God who gives rather than a God who takes. Every blessing we enjoy flows from His generosity.
Reflection Question: Do you ever find yourself trying to earn God’s acceptance rather than resting in His grace?
Prayer: Lord, help me serve You out of gratitude for Your grace rather than a desire to earn Your favor.
Paul Declares God Desires To Be Known
Acts 17:26-27
And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,
that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us.
One of the most remarkable statements in Paul’s sermon is that God has arranged history and human existence so that people might seek Him. The God of the universe is not hiding from His creation. He desires to be known. Paul describes people as feeling their way toward God. The image suggests someone reaching in the dark, sensing that there must be something more.
Throughout history, people have searched for meaning, purpose, truth, and hope. They have built philosophies, religions, and worldviews in an effort to answer life’s deepest questions.
Paul acknowledges that search, but he also reveals its destination. The God people are searching for is not far away. Many people assume God is distant. They imagine Him as detached from ordinary life, unconcerned with their struggles, or impossible to know personally. Paul says the opposite. God is near. He is involved in His creation and accessible to those who seek Him.
This truth is especially encouraging when we go through seasons where God feels distant. Our feelings can fluctuate, but God’s presence does not. Even when we struggle to sense Him, He remains near. The ultimate proof of God’s nearness is Jesus Christ. God did not remain distant from humanity. He entered our world, took on flesh, and came to seek and save the lost.
Reflection Question: What helps you remember God’s nearness during seasons when He feels far away?
Prayer: Father, thank You that You are near and that You invite me into a relationship with You.
The Gospel Is Truth Demanding a Decision
Acts 17:30-31
The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.
Paul’s sermon builds to this moment. After speaking about creation, providence, and God’s nearness, he arrives at a call for response. The gospel is not merely information to consider. It is truth that demands a decision. The word repent means to change one’s mind and direction. It involves turning away from self-rule and turning toward God. Paul makes it clear that this invitation extends to all people everywhere. No one is excluded from God’s call.
At first glance, the mention of judgment may seem uncomfortable. Yet it is actually good news. A world filled with injustice, evil, and suffering needs a righteous Judge. The promise of judgment means that God will ultimately make all things right. The assurance of this future judgment is the resurrection of Jesus. The empty tomb is not merely evidence that a miracle occurred. It is God’s declaration that Jesus is Lord and that His claims are true. The resurrection means that history is moving toward a purpose. It means that our lives matter. It means that forgiveness is available today because Christ died for sinners and rose again.
Paul’s audience had many different reactions to this message. Some mocked. Some wanted to hear more. Some believed. The same choices remain before people today.
Reflection Question: How does the resurrection of Jesus shape the way you think about your life and your future?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me respond to Your truth with faith, obedience, and gratitude.