The Changing of Seasons

People enjoy the changing of seasons. Some dislike Winter, because of cold, or Summer, because the hot, but most like Spring and Fall, the former for planting and rain, the latter for crops fully grown and harvested. In Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey “fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about” (14:6).

There Paul and Barnabas preached in Acts 14:15-17: “We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: . . . . Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”

The Apostle Paul brings “seasons” into his gospel presentation to a pagan population. He challenged the people of this Gentile region to turn from “vanities unto the living God.” Paul provided a basis for their repenting as such. The true God to which they should turn did not leave Himself without witness. God did good to the inhabitants of these regions. Whatever good they saw around them, they could credit to the living God, who made earth and all therein.

The Lord gave rain. Everyone in the farming regions know the importance of water for the growth and health of plants. God did and does that. The Lord also gave the seasons, which have unique features for the success of a future harvest and food production. Let us join Paul in praise to God for changing seasons and Fall.