Athens was cultured, educated, and full of ideas. It was also full of idols. When Paul walked into that city, the Bible says his spirit was provoked within him (Acts 17:16). Not because he wanted a fight—but because he saw people trapped in spiritual darkness, worshiping what could not save them.
That story feels uncomfortably modern.
We live in a world with endless content, endless opinions, and endless “new” things to hear. You can learn something every minute—yet still feel empty. You can scroll for hours—yet feel more anxious than when you started. Paul saw the same pattern in Athens: people spending their time “in nothing except telling or hearing something new” (Acts 17:21). They were hungry, but they didn’t know what they were hungry for.
The Real Danger: Going Numb
One of the biggest dangers for believers isn’t open rebellion. It’s slow acceptance. The “frog in the kettle” illustration hits because it’s true: what used to shock us can start to feel normal if we’re not careful. And when the church gets numb, families get spiritually thin. We stop being provoked by what grieves God—and we stop being moved by the people who need Him.
Paul stayed sensitive because he stayed close to God. That’s still the answer. If you want strength and purpose this year, you can’t live disconnected from the presence of God.
A Faith That Can Handle Pressure
Paul didn’t only preach in the synagogue. He reasoned in the marketplace (Acts 17:17). He brought truth into public life. That matters because real faith is not just for church services—it’s for conversations, workplaces, parenting moments, and hard seasons.
Christianity is not irrational. The resurrection of Jesus is not a legend we repeat to feel better. It is the cornerstone of our hope. Paul preached “Jesus and the resurrection” (Acts 17:18) because if Jesus rose from the dead, then everything changes: your story, your family, your future, your endurance, your courage.
Strength and Purpose Start at Home
In 2026, many voices will compete for your attention. But the strongest families aren’t built by trends. They’re built by truth. When you lead your home with prayer, Scripture, and a Spirit-filled walk with Jesus, you’re building something that can last.
Not everyone in Athens believed. But some did (Acts 17:34). That’s a word for us: stay faithful even when results feel slow. Keep praying. Keep witnessing. Keep worshiping. Your steady obedience might be the very thing God uses to save a spouse, restore a child, heal a heart, or rebuild a future.
A Simple Plan for 2026
If you want to walk in strength and purpose this year, keep it simple and consistent:
Daily: 10 minutes in the Word + 2 minutes of prayer
Weekly: faithful worship + a spiritual community connection
Ongoing: remove what dulls you, and feed what strengthens you
God is still saving. Still baptizing in the Holy Spirit. Still healing. Still sanctifying. Still calling His people to be a light. And yes—Jesus is still coming soon. That’s not fear. That’s hope.
Be provoked again. Not by outrage. By love. By truth. By souls. And by the Holy Spirit’s fire.