Spreading the love of Jesus...the Cowboy Way!

Where Does God Live?

Acts 7:2-3

"The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran."

Thoughts for Today:

As Stephen begins his testimony he launches into a full history of the patriarchs from Abraham to Moses. Why? It certainly wasn't because his audience didn't know Jewish history (those listening to him included the Jewish chief priest and Sanhedrin). The purpose and one of the main points he is making relates to his defense of the accusation against him of "speaking against this holy place." Stephen's response is that God doesn't reside in a place -- He is not tied to a particular country or building.

The Jews in Stephen's day were guilty of placing God in a box -- confining God to their locations and ideas. The "God of glory" reference that Stephen makes, indicates God's sovereign nature (He can do anything He wants); and His appearance in Mesopotamia to Abraham, illustrates that God does not confine Himself to a particular country.

So often we do the same thing. We think that God is only at church, or only interested in Christians, or supports only an American agenda. God is as interested in your son or daughter's salvation as He is in the salvation of a drug dealer in Colombia, a prostitute in Paris, or a child with AIDS in Africa. God doesn't have boundaries and no one is a waste of time or effort for God.

Questions to Ponder:

We all are guilty to one degree or another of placing boundaries on God. What restrictions do you place on Him? Where have you put God "in a box of your own making?" Intellectually you may agree that God is not only at church, but sometimes we do not have the same "feeling" of being close to God outside of the building where we worship. What thoughts or ideas about God do you need to change?