Our Daily Bread for Teens 21 September 2021 Devotional for Day 264 Message By Our Daily Bread
Click Here To Read Previous Our Daily Bread Teens Edition
TOPIC:Â Respecting Other Religions
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Acts 17:16-34
KEY VERSE: The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful – 2 Timothy 2:24
In Acts 17 we see an example of how to respect people with other beliefs, without feeling guilty or changing our own beliefs.
When Paul came to Athens, he was upset by the statues and images of fake gods he saw all over the place. But he talked with the people there kindly, even using the words of some of their own poets (Acts 17:28). He didn’t tell his listeners off or make them feel bad. He didn’t criticise what they believed. He simply talked about God’s greatness (vv.24-25). He said that God is actively working in each of our lives so that people will look for Him themselves and find Him (vv.26-28).
Paul didn’t change the truth to make things easier for himself. He stuck to what he knew of God from His own relationship with Jesus, confidently telling everyone to turn to Him for themselves. He said that God has given Jesus to be the judge of the world, and proved this by bringing Him back to life (vv.29-31).
In our schools and on our streets, we meet more and more people with different religious beliefs. Our relationship with Jesus will stand out most clearly when we avoid arguments, and simply share what we believe with kindness and gentleness. Then we can pray for God to help the people we meet understand who Jesus really is for themselves.
REFLECT: WE DON’T NEED TO ARGUE; WE CAN SIMPLY SHARE WHAT WE’VE LEARNED ABOUT JESUS.
Our Daily Bread for Teens 21 September 2021 Devotional was written By Our Daily Bread Ministries (ODB). Our Daily Bread Teens Edition a reading plan with bite-sized devotions and relatable stories that help teenagers connect the timeless wisdom of God’s Word to their daily life.