Head of the Table

Daily Reading: Acts 17

Scripture Focus: being the Lord of heaven and earth... (Acts 17.24)

Devotional Thought: I love to repeat this story that I heard many years ago. A young executive was attending a meeting, and the CEO showed up a few minutes after everyone else was seated and found a seat in the midst of the group. The young man, wanting to make a good impression, said to the CEO, "Sir, you should be seated at the head of the table." The CEO's response was priceless: "Young man, where I sit is the head of the table." I've told that to my kids many times at dinner...

In preaching to the Athenians in Acts 17, Paul presents God just in that manner. The Athenians were particularly superstitious and wanted to make sure that they had all their spiritual bases covered. So, they built many altars and shrines to make sure that the right god had a seat at the table. Paul said, in essence, "The true God doesn't need all this."

In Acts 17.24-26, Paul explains that where God sits is the head of the table for...

· He made the world and everything in it.

· He is the Lord of heaven and earth.

· He does not live in temples made by man.

· He is not served by human hands, as though he needed anything.

· He himself gives to all mankind, life and breath and everything.

· He made, from one man, every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth.

· He determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place.

Where God sits is indeed the head of the table! As Paul told the Athenians, let us "seek God, and perhaps feel [our] way toward him and find him" (v. 27).

Prayer: Lord, you are sovereign over earth and heaven, over time and eternity. I seek you with all my heart today and recognize that in my own life, you are indeed seated at the head of the table. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 71.1-8

1 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame! 2 In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me, and save me! 3 Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.

4 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man. 5 For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth. 6 Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; you are he who took me from my mother's womb. My praise is continually of you.

7 I have been as a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge. 8 My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day.