I’m in the book of Acts in my daily Bible reading. Paul didn’t plan to go to Athens. He was just waiting there—a layover, not a destination. All he was doing was biding time until Silas and Timothy could rejoin him.
But for Paul, even a layover was an opportunity.
Can you picture it? Athens—a city full of ideas. People packed into the marketplace, chasing the newest philosophies, arguing for sport, delighting in lofty thoughts that stirred the mind but rarely touched the heart.
Paul walked those streets, and his spirit was stirred. He saw idols everywhere—altars on every corner. Shrines to gods with names, shapes, and stories. A city devoted to worship, but blind to the One who alone is worthy. Like Isaiah said long ago, “Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands” (Isaiah 2:8 ESV).
I imagine Paul shaking his head. Heart heavy. Grieved.
And then, something caught his eye.
An altar. Not gilded. Not adorned. Just a plain inscription carved into stone: To the unknown god.
There it was—his opening. His invitation to speak Jesus into a culture chasing everything but truth.
Standing in the Areopagus, surrounded by men who prided themselves on their wisdom, Paul said, “What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you” (Acts 17:23 ESV).
He told them of the God who made the world and everything in it. The God who doesn’t live in temples made by human hands. The One who gives life and breath to all. The same God who said through Jeremiah, “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” (Jeremiah 23:24 ESV). And Paul reminded them that this God is not far from each one of us, quoting even their own poets: “In him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28 ESV). And then he told them of Jesus—the Man appointed by God, raised from the dead.
And right there in Athens, the gospel was preached. Some laughed. Some believed. And from a moment that looked unplanned, a church was born.
It makes me wonder—how many times do we miss the sacred because it wasn’t scheduled?
We sketch out our calendars and hold tight to our plans. But sometimes, the interruption is the assignment. Like Proverbs reminds us, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9 ESV).
Paul didn’t see Athens coming. But when he got there, he had eyes to see and a heart ready to move.
What about us?
How many “unknown gods” do we walk past—people reaching, searching, wondering—because we’re just trying to get through the day?
James says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5 ESV).
Maybe that’s our prayer today.
Lord, give me eyes to see what You’ve placed in front of me. Give me wisdom to turn a layover into a mission field. Give me courage to speak Jesus, right where I am. Because success in the kingdom isn’t always about how well we execute the plans we made. Sometimes, it’s about how faithfully we respond when You interrupt them.
Has God ever met you in a place you didn’t plan to be? Have you ever watched Him turn an ordinary moment—or even a delay—into something sacred? I’d love to hear how that looked in your life. Share it in the comments so we can walk this together.