From Unknown to Known: Encountering the True God

Scripture Focus: Acts 17:22–31,  verse 23

"For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you." — Acts 17:23 (NIV)

Devotional:

In the bustling intellectual hub of Athens, Paul encountered a people fervent in religion but void of true revelation. Their altar “TO AN UNKNOWN GOD” represented humanity’s deepest longing—a cry from the soul to connect with the divine, even when His identity remains a mystery. In that moment, Paul did not mock their ignorance. Instead, he prophetically bridged the gap between their spiritual yearning and divine truth.

Today, many live like the Athenians—surrounded by religion, spirituality, rituals, and self-made idols of success, fame, or culture, yet still estranged from the living God. The altar may no longer be made of stone, but the inscription still reads the same: “To the Unknown God.”

The message of Paul echoes through the ages: God is not a distant deity hidden in clouds of mystery—He is a personal, living God who longs to reveal Himself. He has already made Himself known through creation, through His Word, and supremely through Jesus Christ. In Christ, the invisible becomes visible. The unknown becomes intimately known.

Prophetically, the Spirit of God is calling this generation out of religious confusion into divine encounter. The time of ignorance is over (Acts 17:30). God is revealing Himself afresh to hearts willing to turn from idols—both seen and unseen—and embrace the truth.

This is your moment of revelation. The God you’ve been seeking is closer than your next breath. He’s not found in empty philosophies or emotional highs. He’s found in Christ—the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). Seek Him with all your heart, and you will find that the “Unknown God” has always been calling you by name.

Reflection:

1. Are there any “altars” in your life where you’ve unknowingly worshipped something other than God?
2. How can you intentionally seek to know God more personally and deeply?
3. Who around you might be longing for God but doesn’t yet know who He is?

Prayer:

Lord, I confess that at times I’ve worshipped You without truly knowing You. I turn away from every altar of ignorance and open my heart to Your truth. Reveal Yourself to me, Jesus. Make Yourself known, not just to my mind but to my spirit. May I no longer live in the shadows of tradition, but in the light of revelation. Use me, like Paul, to proclaim You to a searching generation. Amen.

Action Step:

Share this devotional with someone who may be spiritually searching. Start a conversation about who God truly is—and how He’s revealed Himself through Jesus Christ.