After Paul's escorts had taken him to Athens, they came away with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. Then Paul stood up at the Areopagus and said: "You Athenians, I see that in every respect you are very religious. For as I walked around looking carefully at your shrines, I even discovered an altar inscribed, 'To an Unknown God.' What therefore you unknowingly worship, I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and all that is in it, the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands because he needs anything. Rather it is he who gives to everyone life and breath and everything. He made from one the whole human race to dwell on the entire surface of the earth, and he fixed the ordered seasons and the boundaries of their regions, so that people might seek God, even perhaps grope for him and find him, though indeed he is not far from any one of us. For 'In him we live and move and have our being,' as even some of your poets have said, 'For we too are his offspring.' Since therefore we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the divinity is like an image fashioned from gold, silver, or stone by human art and imagination. God has overlooked the times of ignorance, but now he demands that all people everywhere repent because he has established a day on which he will 'judge the world with justice' through a man he has appointed, and he has provided confirmation for all by raising him from the dead." When they heard about resurrection of the dead, some began to scoff, but others said, "We should like to hear you on this some other time." And so Paul left them. But some did join him, and became believers. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the Court of the Areopagus, a woman named Damaris, and others with them. After this he left Athens and went to Corinth.

There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life in Christ has set me free from the law of sin and death.

—Romans 8:1-2

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

We can join the apostle Paul in thanking God for his grace and use the famous words of Dr. Martin Luther King, as he quoted the old spiritual song: "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!" Becoming a Christian means we have been liberated from law-keeping as the basis of our salvation. We now have God living in us through the Holy Spirit, empowering us. The Spirit helps us to know God's will and then live it (1 Corinthians 2:10-13; Galatians 5:22-23). Through the Spirit's power, we can do what no law could make us do: live up to God's standards of righteousness by the power of the Spirit (Romans 8:1-4). We are set free from law-keeping - not just Old Testament Law, but any law (Galatians 3:21-22) - and empowered to be like Jesus, free from the crippling power of law, sin, shame, and death (2 Corinthians 3:17-18).

My Prayer...

Gracious Father, thank you for all of your gifts to me. Today, I want to especially thank you for liberating me from law-keeping and empowering me with your Spirit to a higher standard: Christlikeness. Please, O God, fill and empower me today with your Spirit as I commit to live my life for you and follow the way of Jesus. In the name and by the authority of my LORD and Savior, I pray. Amen.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

Misfortune pursues the sinner, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.

—Proverbs 13:21

---

Ⓒ 1996-2026 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent.

Praise his glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen!

—Psalm 72:19

---

Ⓒ 1996-2026 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent.

[Jesus said,] "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh."

—John 6:51 NLT

Key Thought

Jesus, unlike wheat that has to "die" to be made into flour, is alive. He died and rose again. He is "living bread." The gift of his flesh, taken to the cross and sacrificed as a sin offering for us and then raised up on the third day, is offered so that the world can live forever - so that I can live forever! Jesus is the forever bread!

Today's Prayer

Holy and righteous God, thank you for making salvation so accessible in Jesus. Thank you for living in our world, facing our pain, enduring our ridicule, and facing our death. Thank you for the hope that frees me from the fear of death. Thank you for the confidence this hope gives me in my trials. Thank you for giving me the living bread of Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

• John 3:16-17
• Colossians 1:19-23
• John 13:1-3

---

Ⓒ 1996-2026 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.