27th Mar 26 | 16:08
Studies by Book
02 Acts 14 08-20 THE MINISTRY AT LYSTRA 43 Acts 14 15-17 God of great love
📖 Acts 14:08-20
43 – Wed, 03 Dec 2025 – *God of great love*- _Acts 14:08-20_ – THE MINISTRY AT LYSTRA – _Isaiah 55:07_
_Acts 14:15-17 and saying, "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, (16) *who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. (17) Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness*, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness."_
Barnabas and Paul explained that when people reject the true and living God, man goes deeper into chaos. It is God’s mercy that our own evil does not consume us. _Lamentations 3:22-23 Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. (23) They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness._
We are all so very conscious of how the evil in our world is increasing. We should have annihilated ourselves long ago with all the wickedness that we commit against God, against ourselves, against one another and against creation. Yet, if mankind continues, it is because God is sustaining the world and giving man time to repent and return to Him. His patience is not weakness—it is love, giving mankind the chance to turn back before judgment comes.
_II Peter 3:5-9 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, (6) by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. (7) But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (8) But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (9) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, *but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance*._
It is the character of God, of His love and mercy on us, that has given us more time to consider our ways and return to Him. _Isaiah 48:9 "For My name's sake *I will defer My anger*, And for My praise I will restrain it from you, So that I do not cut you off._
When we consider the evil at the time of Noah, we understand the pain of God’s heart and His righteous anger against humanity. _Genesis 6:5-7 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that *every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually*. (6) And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. (7) So the LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them."_
*Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.* _Genesis 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD._ It was Noah’s worship of God that was pleasing before Him that God relented of His anger. _Genesis 8:20-22 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. (21) And the LORD smelled a soothing aroma. Then the LORD said in His heart, *"I will never again curse the ground for man's sake, although the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth;* nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done. (22) "While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease."_
The goodness and forbearance of God are for man to repent and return to Him. _Romans 2:2-4 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. (3) And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? (4) Or *do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?*_
Although man is fully aware of the mercy of God, we see the arrogance of man that makes him go further and further away from God and into sin. _Isaiah 5:20-21 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (21) Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!_ / _Jeremiah 2:19 Your own wickedness will correct you, And your backslidings will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing That you have forsaken the LORD your God, And the fear of Me is not in you," Says the Lord GOD of hosts._
The Lord longs for man to repent and return to Him. _Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; *Let him return to the LORD*, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon._