Reading Plan: Meet People Where They Are
Devotional: 4 of 11

“For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.” (Acts 17:23 ESV)

Meet People Where They Are - Tip #3: Find A Connection Point

Did you know that when you walk into the room, everything changes? Why - because if you are a follower of Jesus, you have the Holy Spirit living inside you. Right before Jesus ascended into heaven, He left us with a two-part promise about the Holy Spirit. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 ESV) The room doesn’t change because of you and me; it changes because the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of us changes the atmosphere of every situation.

The Holy Spirit’s power living inside of us is not to be used for our own personal gain but instead to meet people right where they are in their mess. The Holy Spirit is our guide, helping us to find a connection point with anyone we meet. Before we consider the practical application of “how to” make a connection point, let’s wrestle with WHY this is so important. One scholar said it this way, “God chooses the right moment in His work to save humanity. It is important to seize the opportunities He offers, both in receiving salvation and in working with Him to offer it to others. Christians should take every opportunity to tell others the good news (about Jesus).” God chooses the moment, He empowers us with the Holy Spirit, and our role is to partner with Him obeying His call on our lives to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth.

Now that we have established the urgency for “why” we should find a connection point with the people God has placed in our path; let’s look closer at the “how.” Acts 17:23 says that Paul “passed along and observed the objects of your (their) worship.” The text shows us that Paul took the necessary time to examine and contemplate the current state of worship in Athens before ever opening his mouth. Here we see Paul display the first step in “how” to find a connection point with people that we can apply in our lives - Be Intentional. The second “how” that I see from this text is that Paul is “Specific” in his message. “I found also an altar with this inscription: To the unknown god.” Paul boldly declares to the people of Athens that the god they worship as “unknown” and unknowable is actually entirely knowable. Paul uses their existing worship of an “unknown god” as a connection point to share the gospel of Jesus.

Every person we meet - whether one time or a hundred times - is an opportunity to showcase the love, grace, and compassion of Jesus. Like Paul, God is calling you and me to be intentional about finding a connection point with people. As we take the time to be intentional, He will reveal to us a specific and tailored way to connect. Why does this matter? Because the gospel message is urgent, and the eternal home of so many people hangs in the balance.

To read more devotions based on the book of Acts click here.

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About the Author

Nathan Miller is a passionate follower of Jesus who strives to connect, surrender, and partner with Him on a daily basis. He is the founder of OnThe3rdDay, a resource created to help others more fully Live a Life On Mission For Jesus. Nathan is devoted to studying God's word, writing about following Jesus in today's culture, and discipling others who want to do the same.  He is also a husband, father, friend, mentor, ultra-marathon runner, NBA basketball enthusiast, fan of all things tech, and music lover. He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with his wife and two kids, where they are involved in their local church, North Way Christian Community.