24“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’b As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ (Acts 17)
Thoughts: What is luck? Is it probability? Usually people who believe in luck want to say it is more than that. Is it some kind of impersonal fate? The Bible speaks of providence in terms of God's personal concern and care. We do not live in a cold, probability laden, take-your-chances universe. Rather the Father- who made the world out of love- cares for us. He sustains us, but also strengthens us. This should comfort us with hope, meaning, and the ability to endure the tough times in life.
Prayer: Lord, strengthen me to rely on your providential care.
Q & A 27
Q. What do you understand by the providence of God?
A. The almighty and ever present power of God1 by which God upholds, as with his hand,
heaven and earth and all creatures,2 and so rules them that leaf and blade, rain and drought, fruitful and lean years, food and drink, health and sickness, prosperity and poverty—3 all things, in fact, come to us not by chance4 but by his fatherly hand.5
1 Jer. 23:23-24; Acts 17:24-28
2 Heb. 1:3
3 Jer. 5:24; Acts 14:15-17/a>; John 9:3; Prov. 22:2
4 Prov. 16:33
5 Matt. 10:29
2 Heb. 1:3
3 Jer. 5:24; Acts 14:15-17/a>; John 9:3; Prov. 22:2
4 Prov. 16:33
5 Matt. 10:29
Q & A 28
Q. How does the knowledge of God’s creation and providence help us?
A. We can be patient when things go against us,1 thankful when things go well,2
and for the future we can have good confidence in our faithful God and Father
that nothing in creation will separate us from his love.3 For all creatures are so completely in God’s hand that without his will they can neither move nor be moved.4
that nothing in creation will separate us from his love.3 For all creatures are so completely in God’s hand that without his will they can neither move nor be moved.4
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